My Worst Nightmare

“My Worst Nightmare”

Alexis Shingleton


“Our thoughts shape us, but our actions make us.” That is my favorite quote and what I believe in, my name is Stephanie Bright. I’m 18 about 5’5” tall. I have dark brown hair and emerald green eyes. I have a boyfriend, his name is Nathan Bridger, he’s 21, and our relationship is great, we have been together for only 2 weeks but I like him a lot. Everyone thinks it is weird that Nathan and I are dating because he is 3 years older than me, but neither of us really cares about the age difference. I also have a big brother named John Bright. He is 19, 6’1” and I love him to death and we would do anything for each other. We are really close and we tell each other everything, no matter what. I have a best friend named Gabriel Ellis. Gabriel is 17, 5’4” she has blonde hair. Gabriel has sky blue eyes that are absolutely gorgeous. John and I look relatively similar; he has black hair and emerald green eyes.
Well now that I have described my boyfriend, brother, and best friend I will tell you more about me. My favorite band is Hollywood Undead. My favorite song is “Comin’ In Hot” by Hollywood Undead. My favorite color is hot pink. Well enough about me let’s talk about Nathan and me. We are going on a date Saturday to the movies. Its only Monday but I cannot wait! Gabriel and I are deciding on what I should wear, Nathan and I are going to dinner and a movie. Gabriel is staying the night at my house Monday and Tuesday night. We went shopping Monday evening to pick out my outfit, we decided on dark skinny jeans and a pink sweater from Aèropostal, and for shoes I’m going to wear gray Ugg boots. The days flew by and before I knew it, it was Saturday afternoon; Gabriel was at my house again helping me get ready. Gabriel and I are always at each other’s house. I was ready by 8:00pm and Nathan came to pick me up around 8:30pm. We talked for a little bit on the way there,
“So what movie do you want to go see?” asked Nathan
“I want to go see a scary movie….. Like Final Destination 5” I replied.
He said okay and we sat in silence the rest of the way there which was only about 5 minutes. We got to the movies and got a large Coke to share then we bought tickets to the movie. It started at 9:30 and it was only 9:00. We sat in the lobby of the movie theater for about 10 minutes and just talked about where we wanted to go eat after the movie,
“I want to take you somewhere nice” said Nathan
“I don’t care where we go as long as you’re happy” I said smiling at him.
He smiled back; we stood up and walked into the movie theater holding hands. We held hands for most of the movie. He was so sweet; he wasn’t a pig like most guys that I have dated. He was content with watching the movie and holding hands unlike most guys. So we sat there and watched the movie it was about 2 hours long. After that I asked him where we were going for dinner he said it was a surprise. So we got into his truck, a Chevy to be exact, my favorite and turned the radio on, we didn’t really talk much, I sang to the radio and he just looked at me every now and again and smiled at my terrible singing. One of the songs that played was Over My Head by The Fray; it was one of my favorite songs. We finally arrived at the restaurant about 10 minutes later; it was beautiful from the outside and even more gorgeous on the inside. I felt out of place because Nathan and I weren’t in fancy clothes like everyone else there. He had actually had all of this planned out ahead of time, so we sat down at our table and ordered our meals and drinks. We had a few conversations about the movie,
“That movie was terrifying” I said
“It wasn’t all that scary Steph” said Nathan
“You were just as scared as I was but you won’t admit” I said
“I was not scared you were” Nathan said. We had a few other small conversations over dinner. Then he drove me home.
The weekend came and went oh so quickly. Nathan, Gabriel, and I went to the mall. Gabriel and I were really the ones who wanted to shop; Nathan only went to spend time with me. As we were all walking through the mall I shouted
“OH MY GOD, Gabriel look at that top in Aèropostal!” I shouted
“That top is awesome we should get matching shirts” said Gabriel
I agreed and we went in and found our size as Nathan stood there awkwardly and waited for us. After that Nathan drove back to my house. Nathan, Gabriel and I all hung out at my house. We laughed and had a good time. Nathan and I wanted to go outside but Gabriel didn’t, so she stayed in the house. Nathan and I went for a walk in my woods. We talked a little but mostly just walked and looked around. Then before I knew it I was on the ground, Nathan threw me down…. I tried to get up but he told me not to move. Then it happened, there was just multiple punches and kicks coming at me from every direction. I couldn’t move. The nightmare only lasted for 5 minutes but it felt like forever. When he stopped hitting me he told me not to tell anyone and that if I told he would kill me, I ran as fast as I could up to the house to tell John, he just got home, Nathan tackled me…. I couldn’t move. He punched me in the face and asked me
“I thought I told you not to tell anyone!!!” said Nathan
“You’re a monster! I thought you loved me!?” I said as I laid there helpless and just cried.
He slapped me. He stood up and walked to his truck and left. I ran in the house once I was sure he was gone.
I ran around the house screaming “JOHN” tears streaming down my face. After about the 5th scream John ran down the stairs and saw me. I was bruised, bleeding, and crying. He ran over and hugged me. He angrily asked “who did this to you!”
Through my crying I managed to say “Nathhannnn!”
He carried me over to the couch and set me down he told me to stay there as he called Gabriel down stairs to sit with me he grabbed the keys to his truck, looked at me and said, “Gabriel keep her safe I have something to take care of.”
Gabriel and I knew where he was going. She asked me what happened I explained the whole thing to her she hugged me and told me,
“Don’t worry Steph everything will be alright John will take care of Nathan” said Gabriel.
We sat on the couch and waited for John to return. It had been about an hour when we heard a car door slam shut. I hopped it was John, Gabriel got up to look out the window…….. It was NOT John, it was Nathan….
Gabriel told me to run upstairs so I did as she told me, she followed me up. Nathan walked through the door and saw Gabriel and ran up the stairs after her, he grabbed her ankle and pulled her, she grabbed the railing and held on just long enough for me to run to John’s room and get his baseball bat. I swung it was hard as I could and hit Nathan in the arm; he quickly released his grip on Gabriel. His hands were around the railing when Gabriel kicked him right in the face. He fell backwards down the stairs. Gabriel and I ran out of the house and jumped into Nathan’s truck. He left the keys in his truck all the time when he came over to my house. Gabriel found the keys and drove off right as Nathan was running out the front door of my house. She drove for about 10 minutes, then she stopped I just turned to her and hugged her for a long time we both asked at the same time,
“How did we just get out of there!?” neither of us knew. Then I shouted
“OH MY GOD GABRIEL, what about John what did Nathan do to him.” I shouted.
So we drove to Nathan’s house and found John with a broken nose and bruises everywhere, he was unconscious so I ran over to him, despite the shooting pain running up the whole right side of my body, and shook him gently to wake him. He woke up, Gabriel and I helped him stay standing up as he staggered over to Nathan’s truck. We all got into the Nathan’s truck and drove back to Gabriel’s house. John went and laid down in the couch, while Gabriel and I got wet rags and ice for John. He was hurt the worst. We all slept in the living room together.
The next day Gabriel, John, and I went to the police and told them everything. They told us to go somewhere where Nathan wouldn’t think to look for us, then they called in a sketch artist and Gabriel and I described Nathan to the sketch artist. He drew him so perfectly; every little detail was right on. This looked exactly like Nathan. They asked us where he might be, none of us had any idea. They said they would look for him as soon as possible. The sent out officers to search for Nathan and they made a news broadcast telling people to keep away from Nathan Bridger and that he may be armed and that he is very dangerous, also that if anyone saw him they are supposed to report it immediately. Gabriel, John, and I went back to Gabriel’s house. We lived our lives for the next 2 weeks. Wondering where Nathan might be, if he was going to get caught, or if he was going to get away with what he did. The next day on the news when we were all sitting down watching TV we found out that Nathan had abused another girl. She told them everything and even where it happened. We all started talking
“I think we should all go out to dinner tonight and have fun” suggested John.
“I totally agree!”I said.
“Where are we going to go” asked Gabriel.
“I say we go to Texas Road House” said John.
We all agreed and went upstairs to get ready. I wore Gabriel’s clothes since I didn’t have any and John had clothes in his truck that he changed into. We left the house at about 7pm and arrived at Texas Rode House at 7:30pm. On the way there we talked about random things like, our favorite TV shows, favorite color, favorite car and we all told each other these things. We ate dinner and went back to Gabriel’s house. We went to bed.
The next morning, John went back to work after I drove him to Nathan’s house to get his truck back. Then I drove back to my house without telling anyone, because I wanted to grab some of my clothes. I walked in thinking it was safe, I walked up to my room where Nathan was waiting for me. I tried to run and scream for help but he tackled me and we both rolled down the stairs. He landed on top of me and pinned me down. He talked just above a whisper, and said, “I’ve been waiting for you ever since you told John, Gabriel, and the cops about what I did Steph.” Said Nathan
“I told you not to tell anyone or I would kill you and you told so guess what….it all ends here” he continued.
“Please…no please I’m sorry Nathan.” I pleaded
“It’s too late for apologizes” said Nathan.
I screamed and tried to get up but he began hitting me. After the 10th or 11th hit he stopped and said to me
“Don’t move I have to go get something”
I tried to move but I couldn’t. I screamed but it was no help. He returned from the kitchen with a knife in his hand. He stood over me looked straight into my eyes and said with a stern voice
“You life ends right here right now”
“No please no you don’t want to do this” I pleaded
“Oh but I do” he replied as he plunged the knife into my chest.
The last thing I saw was the look of accomplishment and pride in his eyes. I felt the warm blood pour out onto the floor then it was all over I was dead.
(Nathan’s point of view), I killed her I actually did it. I didn’t think I had it in me. I have to hide the body. I know I’ll put her dead body in her room and leave a note on her bedroom door. I’ll leave a note for them to find it. Then I will get away in my truck, my plan is full proof. I will never get caught.
Now I am going to switch it to John’s point of view.
I got home from work and asked Gabriel where Stephanie was she said she didn’t know so we got in my truck and went to find her. The first place that I drove to was our house. I ran up the stairs and Gabriel followed close behind. I walked down the hall towards Stephanie’s room I went to open her door when I found a note that said
Dear John or Gabriel (whoever finds this note)
Hello there you are probably wondering why Stephanie hasn’t returned back to Gabriel’s house yet. That’s because she came here to get clothes and well I was waiting for her. I tackled her down the stairs beat her up then plunged a knife into her chest. He blood was everywhere, but I cleaned it all up for when you guys made your entrance. Stephanie is dead and her body is in the closet. I got away in my truck but you will never find me and I will get away with all of this.
Sincerely,
Nathan
I was so mad I punched my hand straight through the wall Gabriel and I hugged each other and started to cry. After about 30 minutes I looked at Gabriel and said
“Let’s go were going to find him now, I will kill him”
“Shouldn’t we go to the police first” said Gabriel.
“No they won’t do anything, going to them in the first place got Stephanie killed I’m taking matters into my own hands I’m going to kill him with or without you” I said.
She followed me to my truck I didn’t know where I was going but I was going to find him if it was the last thing I did. I didn’t realize I was driving so fast till Gabriel said something, “slow down John we can’t find him if we die” said Gabriel.
“I’m sorry I just want to find him as soon as possible” I replied.
We sat in silence as I drove for about 30 minutes, then I saw Nathan’s truck and a hill side up ahead, I knew what I had to do. I picked up speed and told Gabriel to hold on. I rammed his truck once then twice then a third time. The third time I hit him his truck went sailing over the hill side. I pulled my truck over to the side and saw Nathan’s truck in the embankment I looked at Gabriel and said,
“Stay here I’ll be back”
“Ok be careful” Gabriel replied.
I walked down the hill only to find him climbing out of his truck; I grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him out of the truck. I punched him in the face a few times, put my hand on the back of his head and hit his face off his truck door, he fell to the ground. I kicked him in the face then kicked him in the ribs about 5 times. He begged me to stop.
“I won’t stop till I kill you just like you killed my sister” I replied
I told him not to go anywhere as I pulled a knife out of my pocket and plunged it into his chest, it was the knife he killed Stephanie with, and I made him look into my eyes I told him,
“This is what you get for killing my sister no one messes with her and gets away with it.” I walked back up to my truck and left him there. I got into the truck and told Gabriel that I killed him with the same knife that he killed Stephanie with. I told Gabriel,
“It will all be alright it only gets better from here Nathan’s dead and even though Stephanie is to the heart heals, slowly but it heals” I said.
“I know but it will be hard I was so close to Steph she was like my sister and I know it must be hard for you because you are her brother but together we can help each other be happy again” Gabriel said to me.
We sat there in my truck for about 10 minutes just hugging each other and crying. After we settled down a little and collected ourselves we went back to Gabriel’s house we both stayed there for about a year. We lived together for the rest of our lives. After about 3 years Gabriel and I dated then after 2 years of being together I proposed to her and she said yes we had our wedding 6 months after I proposed. We had a beautiful wedding it was in the fall. We had an outside wedding; the leaves were all different colors. Both of our families came to the wedding. I loved her a lot. Now I am 35 and she is 33 and we have 2 beautiful children. A boy and a girl, our sons name is Cody Bright, he is only 1 year older than Maria. Cody has blue eyes and light brown hair. Our daughters name is Maria Bright and she has green eyes and blonde hair. They were both amazing kids. Gabriel and I loved them to death.
In the end no one but Gabriel knew I killed Nathan. We had a good life. I told my kids about how Stephanie was killed. I never told them that I killed Nathan I just said that he was arrested they didn’t need to know about that. They didn’t need to know that their father killed a man. They would be devastated. We all lived our lives like nothing ever happened, well at least Maria and Cody did. Gabriel and I on the other hand cried sometimes when we thought about Stephanie being dead. There is a quote that always helps us and helps us through life and that quote was sung by Eminem in the song When I’m Gone. The quote is When I’m gone just carry on don’t mourn rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice, just know that I’m looking down on you smilin’ and I didn’t feel a thing so baby don’t feel no pain just smile back. This is the quote that I now live and that quote that is also on Stephanie’s grave stone. Every time I fell like crying about Stephanie’s death I just think about this quote, and it helps ease the pain of losing my little sister that was taken from me, she was so innocent, and she didn’t deserve to die. I loved her oh so much……..and now she is gone… forever…………