The Lions

Hands tugged at sheets, spreading them over messy black hair. Ducking.

Once he is completely under, secure in the bed, he is transported.

No longer in a small room, no longer parents yelling in the hall. Vast buildings, stunning waterways.

And finally- his favorite place. Lions on African beaches. He had read about them once, but he was not sure where. He wanted to go there though, wherever it was.

The boy dreamed about the lions as the real world continued to fade and gave in to his fantasy.