Sleep State

Chapter 2

- Ana -

Please leave. Please leave, Ana whispered.

All this time her mind yearned for some company, yet the moment she saw someone else her conscious flipped a switch and warned her to be wary. In an unknown place all by yourself with no memory at all was sad. But to be alone with a stranger was a breach of safety. Ana panicked quietly.

With the very obvious sign that she was no longer the only roaming soul in this place, she wondered who the mystery man was? Did he share the same predicament as her? Why has he come here, out of all the places he could have gone? Had he seen her watching him from the booth outside? The insanity of questions wildly consumed her.

Out of sight and crouched down behind the tall counter, Ana listened to him as he paced the tile floor. Walk, walk, pause. Walk, walk, pause. It was almost rhythmic caring a personal beat. He continued to wear out a path on the floor for about a few minutes before her heart leaped into her throat. Crash!

Unable to see what he was doing, the sound had made it clear. The metal stools with the maroon cushioned seats that lined the counter went toppling over bumping into one another violently one by one. Each crash startled her and she gasped loudly quickly covering her mouth knowing it was no use. Any sound she made right now would only be lost in the tirade she could not witness.

If he was going through what she was experiencing, she could understand his frustration and why he lashed out. He had every right to lose his mind because it wasn't hard to when every time you thought your mind only came up blank. Honestly, a part of her wanted to join, but she remained hidden with her legs curled up close to her chest.

After what seemed like a never-ending battle with the objects in the diner, his rage subsided and she let her shaking hand drop from her mouth. Her heart thumped vigorously.

A low groan escaped him and she listened to his every movement and breath like her life depended on it. How could she reveal herself now after the temper tantrum he had just performed? Slightly terrified by what his reaction might be Ana bit her lip hard contemplating the situation.

"What the fuck?" An exhausted sigh echoed from the other side. His voice low and tired.

Short and panicked, the sound of her breathing became sensitive to her ears. The littlest noise was about to give her away. Coward!, her inner thoughts screamed. Here she was hiding from what she had asked for, but wasn't it fair for her to do so? Completely out of her element, lost, and thrown into something she had no prior knowledge about had her on edge. This idea of the unknown rattled her bones and suffocated her without warning. Every where she looked and turned it followed her. Surrounded by a long list of question marks and unfamiliar scenery was enough to let her drift away and give up. It was overwhelming and now as another person had entered the picture, she was spiraling with madness.

But there was hope, right?

There had to be answers. The light would shine at the end of the tunnel. Deep down in the pile of panic and worry, she knew it. Somewhere in this mysterious universe she had stumbled into was the answer to everything. It was waiting for her to find it, and yet she continued to hide from it. A part of her, the part that stayed in the shadows of her former self told her that she was not one to run from her problems. How she knew this was beyond her, but it tingled inside of her anxious wary.

Ana closed her eyes and counted to ten. The only way she would find clarity in this situation was to stop hiding and make progress, which she couldn't do behind the counter.

Giving herself a quick pep talk, Ana began to rise from the floor holding her breath. It was now or never to make her grand introduction. As she did, she felt the sharp edge of the countertop make contact with the crown of her head. The contact between the countertop and her skull was loud and she cursed wincing in the instant pain it caused. "Ow, ow, ow, ow." The common phrase associated with such pain followed suit. Oh, fuck!