A Dream that Nearly Killed Me

I had a dream last night that there were these huge stairs suspended above dark water. I was climbing up them, or maybe down (I don't remember exactly which). But no matter how long I walked I didn't seem to be getting higher or lower—it was as if these stairs had never-ending steps.

As I was walking, a boy appeared out of nowhere in my path, startling me so much that I fell. I tried to catch myself on the railings, but they seemed to be made out of air and I found myself slipping right through them into the dark water below. I barely had time to scream.

The water swallowed me and pulled me down into its murky depths. Above, I could see a light, the rays broke through the surface and I could almost feel their warmth. I struggled with all my energy to swim, to pull myself out, but my body felt so heavy. Instead of rising, I began to sink. That's when I noticed the chains, rusty-links wrapped around my ankles tugging me further away from the beautiful light, down, down, down into the deep blackness.

I closed my eyes, and let my arms and legs rest. I was so tired, I couldn't fight any longer. The chains were too heavy.
Suddenly, I felt arms around me. I opened my eyes and saw his face. The mysterious boy who had frightened me into this situation had come to rescue me. Somehow, he undid the chains. (I don't remember how).

Then, we were breaking through the surface and I could breathe again. He pulled us both up on the stairs.

I was shivering, the coldest I've ever felt before, and I couldn't stop shaking. But the boy held me, his arms encircled my frozen body and I felt the warmth return. He whispered things in my ear, sweet things, comforting words (but I can't for the life of me remember them now).

He was gentle and beautiful and I wanted to stay with him forever, but then I woke up.