The wake up

The dots still linger over her eyes despite rubbing them. Flashing black holes. Gradually they begin to fade. The colour disintergrating. Purple. Then yellow. Like a bruise. Objects force themselves into focus. Shattered glass. Clumps of tissue. Pipes connecting to the radiator. Susie scrunchies up her eyes; her fingers trying to shed away the blurriness. Her head sways as she lifts it off of the floor. She grabs hold onto the radiator. Her head flops on top. The harshness of the coldness stings her forehead. Breathe in. Breathe out. Achoo! Her head bounces. Hands try to steady it. Echos of the sneeze vibrate through her body. Bringing her knees up, she wraps herself tight. Stop. -

Begin.

Again.

Eyes shut. Visions evade. Seeking. Now is not a time for games. "I will find you", she mutters. Hoards of people, places, screams of delight. Quick. Over there her head tells her. Memories flicker past. I choose you. Snatch. It is like opening a window into another world. The colours are sharp. Susie blinks.

Start.

Again.

Waiting

Nothing moves whilst Susie carries on staring; her emerald eyes a vast void. A tiny droplet plops. A shiver slithers down her back causing her fingers to unclench a little. The phone is smeared in sweat. The time is -. What is the time? Peering closer she notices that only five minutes have gone. She glances at the top of the screen. Nothing. As usual. She blinks away the stinging sensation in her eyes. Her bottom lip bursting to bleed. She drops the phone into her lap.

Muck has discoloured the walls. On closer inspection the stains look like they have been shedding tears. The tiles above the sink are a sickly colour. Yellowish. She scuffs her trainers against the blue carpet. It was the first time she realised nothing matched. The bath towels are aqua. The hand towel is red. Her dressing gown lifelessly hangs off of the door. The edges of the sleeves have turned brown. The belt is frayed. The wooden laundry basket stands alone in the corner where it has been pushed aside. Clothes are trying to escape.

Her body crumbles. She allows herself to curl up. She squeezes her eyes shut. Maybe if she tightens up enough she’ll disappear. Numbness invades inside. Her head twirls. The voice gets louder and louder. Her hands clasp her ears. A scream wants to slip out from her pursed lips. No. No. NO! Suddenly she jolts upright. Fingers twitching to find it. They clumsily pick it up. Her heart thudding. It had beeped. Shaking her hand manages to press the unlock button. She’s positive that she had heard it beep. Her blurry eyes anxiously look down.