Horror movies and fear of the dark

So my memory is pretty patchy at best after splitting my head open twice in my teens, yeah they were both dumb teenage things essentially.

But, I digress.

I don’t remember much of when I was young. But I was thinking back tonight about this time I watched my first horror movie, and realised the link between my kinda fear of the dark as well as the strange relationship that I have with horror movies.

I don’t remember why, but my usually packed house only had my Dad and I on that night, he drank a lot through my childhood and worked long shift hours of a laborious job, so he’d generally come back home and have a bath, listen to music in his room and drink. It was a fairly standard, accepted thing. He worked hard to put food on our table, I respect that of him.

Anyway, I ended up watching The Ring alone, I know it isn’t all that scary a movie, but when you’re maybe 10? I don’t even remember why I watched it, but I was intrigued I guess, and a little ballsy. It terrified me.

Once the movie ended I realised that the lights were off..they must have all gone off because of the old dodgy Victorian house that we had. So it was pitch black everywhere in my house and I was alone after watching this. I was totally crippled with fear after watching this movie.

I managed to make it up the six flights of stairs to the highest room in my house that was my parent’s bedroom. My Dad had passed out with a can still in his hand, I couldn’t even wake him. I tried, even shook him. I was so scared and alone in the dark for hours.

I stayed up there in his bedroom with him there until the really late hours when my Mum got back from maybe drinking with friends or whatever she had been doing that night. I didn’t tell her what happened until days later. She was furious at my Dad.

Ever since that night when I was way too young to watch that shit, never mind the horror movie-esque remainder of the night..I would be scared of the dark, I’d run between my room and the bathroom after turning the light off for years, sometimes I’d leave the bathroom light on so that I could go back and forward.

I enjoy watching horror movies now, I always have. But the aftermath of watching a particularly scary (not gory, more with a good storyline or the more supernatural types) horror still strikes me badly because of that first time. Which is rather pathetic, I’m aware.

I think I see things in the dark, or expect something to jump out, to be attacked. I guess anything like that. I spent my teen years afraid of the dark actually. I’m not like that anymore, as much as I still don’t like the dark particularly.

I still watch a lot of horror movies, it’s almost to test myself on whether I’ve moved past this? I guess. I’ve never thought about it until now. I’m not afraid of the dark, nor do horror movies bother me in the way that they do. I find satisfaction in the fact that I’ve matured past it.

I probably sound insane, I feel mad sharing this with you, internet. I’m normal, honest.

 

Tiring, sleepless nights. Alone with my thoughts

I have such a struggle with sleep lately, to the point of exhaustion. So many thoughts in my head. To be honest though, not the same all over the place thoughts about anything and everything of my life for once. I just can’t stop thinking about someone.

Telling an already really close friend that you feel more for them is totally daunting, but this is so different to any situation I’ve been in. I think about how much we have in common, how comfortable and..right it felt just to hold you. I’m just stupidly, head over heels infatuated with you in the most complicated way. I wish it wasn’t complicated, I’m sure the saying is: nothing worth having is ever easy. Can’t remember where I heard it, but it’s pretty fitting.

I’m so bad when I’m just left to my thoughts, but I guess that’s a big part of why I started blogging, it’s a little outlet for my mind to drop some of the baggage off. Which sounds weird when I put it like that. I worry so much that you think more of me than I’m actually worth. I’m not the great catch you see me as, even though I want someone that thinks that highly of me. It makes me worry that I can’t live up to your expectations. Sleepless nights and thoughts really make me sound insane sometimes I swear.

Right now: I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m scared, I’m nervous. I want to sleep so that I can keep dreaming, but my mind doesn’t want dreams to turn to nightmares. Certain song lyrics stick with me at times and I relate to them in my own personal way. So many songs have memories of emotions and certain times in my life. Both old and new.

Are you there, or are you just a decoy dream in my head?

Am I home or am I simply tumbling all alone?

(On the wing – Owl City)

Does anything feel strange?

‘Cos you’re like a perfect dream and I can’t seem to awake

I’ll lose it all somehow.

(Holiday – Swimming with Dolphins)

Please don’t, don’t make me sleep alone
If I could, I’d only wanna make you smile
If you wanna stay with me a while
(Make you smile – +44)

Take my hand,

I’ll teach you to dance,

I’ll spin you around, won’t let you fall down,

Would you let me lead? You can step on my feet,

Give it a try, it’ll be alright

(All about us – He Is We)

Past, Present and Future

I remember back when I was only fifteen, I had one of my first girlfriends. Our relationship was one of those weird, shy, a lot of text chatting and online chatting. I was into Blink-182 at the time, yeah I was one of those losers, and my band played “All the small things”, for my birthday, she actually left me roses by the stairs (as the lyrics in the song go). I was mortified, to be honest. It’s really funny, I look back and I’d say this girl cared more about me that any others have, in my mind. She probably has no idea who I am, realistically. I found out that she recently got married, which I felt really odd about. Mainly just made me feel quite down.

Anyway, I’m too good at rambling.

What I was more trying to touch on was that I’ve only had two really “meaningful” relationships, both since I went to University. The only two girls that I’ve slept with, which I pride myself on, rather than shy away from that fact. Some people react like it’s a bad thing, being a “lad” that has only slept with two girls even though he’s 21. Fuck the guys that react like that though, to be blunt.

Anyway, I’m trying to give a little insight along the way, to give some context to my thinking out loud here. Essentially over a span of almost three years, I had two relationships. In that time, I was cheated on by both of them. I’ve came to the conclusion I’m too nice, but that just makes me think that if I attract girls that want to treat me like this..I’m just going to stay lonely.

Maybe I’m a pessimist. I’m probably just realistic. 

Really recently, a friend that I only met because of my now ex turns out to be the best thing to come out of that failed relationship. She’s the best, and we’re so alike in so many ways, including what we want from our lives. Of course, like any girl that thinks highly of me, or even notices me for that matter. She’s taken, those two are great together. Trying to avoid difficult, uncomfortable conversations with someone you’re so close to is hard. Especially when you both clearly care about each other. Also, distancing myself from being the guy that the girlfriend vents to about their boyfriend. That’s a bad position to get comfortable being in.

Maybe in ten years time I’ll read this and just think “You asshole, you were so lame”. I kinda hope that happens!

It’s just really lonely, I live in Essex now. After University I’m back living with my parents, hours and hours away from where I was born and raised. I don’t know anyone that lives here but my brother and parents. It’s real lonely, I’m still looking for work. I’m totally cut off from anything social, there’s no way of meeting new people at my age that’s not creepy, is there?

I genuinely can’t think of any! It’s real weird, any ideas or experiences similar to hear about would be really interesting to hear.

Anyway, my future can be as bright as I make it. With a little look and perseverance along the way. I’m really good at self deprecation apparently and feel really lonely right now. Soon enough I’ll hopefully be posting about feeling at home here, or having found someone amazing.

But for right now, the future’s an unpainted canvas. Better keep dreaming.