Bed of Roses

Chapter 1

Screaming. Screeching. Screaming. Bleeding. Crying. Bleeding. Bleeding bleeding bleed—

The nightmares get to her before the alarm clock.

Peggy shoots up in bed. The duvet falls onto the floor and the sheets pool around her broadened hips. She can't breathe. The pain in her chest elevates to an almost deafening ache. She clutches her sweaty, sodden tee shirt and claws at the bedside table with her serrated nails. Through the eight layers of darkness and the nine layers of pain and exhaustion, she fumbles for her inhaler. Her lungs burn white hot and she keeps clutching her shirt to make sure it hasn't somehow set on fire.

She takes a long pull from the inhaler, her grip on the cotton of her tee shirt gradually loosening. Peggy slouches against the headboard, adjusting the closure pillows at the small of her back. A tired, pained groan breaks the silence of the bedroom. Her breathing smooths out like the softest silk.

Peggy turns on the gooseneck lamp and suddenly the darkness has evaded her bedroom. She sighs, her brown eyes dancing, pirouetting in the unpleasant light. A rough shake of the inhaler and a pull later leaves Peggy calling the doctor's office because she has run low again. The call goes to voicemail after three rings. Her long eyebrows knit together like meshwork as she glances toward the digital clock on her bedside table. 4:07 am. The office is closed.

She requests a call back before placing the phone back on its cradle.

Just a normal Monday morning that came too soon.

Author's Note:

Hello! This is my first official story on this site, so I hope everyone enjoys it! I'd love love love you forever if you comment, vote or maybe even fan? Please? And this chapter is dedicated to nessquik because she's a sweetheart and my first Wattpad friend!