They Give You Nightmares

'I don't know why you love these movies so much,' My mom said in disapproval, 'You know they give you such horrible nightmares.'

She was talking about the three horror movies I had picked up from the video store. She was right, but I was 12, and loved to be scared. Horror movies were the perfect way to feel the thrill of fear, without it being real. I just couldn't get enough. Eventually, she gave up trying to persuade me to watch any family movies, and sat down next to me as one of the Alfred Hitchcock movies began.