𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗔𝗚𝗘

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍 - TO WAKE AGAIN

I felt cold. Though, the sweat that wet my skin dripped with an unnerving heat.

There was an uncomfortable lump in my faintly sore throat and a weird chalky feeling in my mouth that made me swallow a few times trying to get ride of the parched feeling. My hands felt sweaty and slippery when I balled up my fingers into a tight fist, my body slowly pushing up from lying flat on my stomach. My hand pushed into the bedsheet, denting the mattress, as I sat myself up fully, a yawn escaping my dry lips. The sweat fell from my forehead and painted my skin in light trickles that sent shivers through my body — the cold feeling contradicted the heat my body had actually been.

I looked over to the lonely nightstand with droopy eyes — my phone laying alone and untouched for several hours, the light beside it rested peacefully in the dark it's energy reposing for future use, and a few miscellaneous items scattered across its top — I was too tired to focus on anything and turned back, the darkness of my room still deep and pitch as the night. The white illumination of the few items beside my rooms window reflected into the room and helped me see a little cleared in the dark.

I blinked tiredly and furrowed my brows a little, my hand coming up to rub at my eyes. I can't remember what shook me from my dreams, but I knew I wouldn't be able to fall sleep again, after all my stomach is already craving food.

I pushed my legs over the side of the bed, a chill from the cool room running up my skin like gushing water. A small smile escaped my lips as I pulled myself to a slouching and tired stand that expressed my fatigue. I stretched my arm out, pulling it to different sides to tease built up tension from my rest before grabbing my phone and checking the time. '5:48' it read in thin white font that stuck out from the wallpaper on my phone screen. I narrowed my eyes before walking out of my room, my walk slow and quiet.

I knew I wasn't alone, mother had called out for a few days stressed and unhappy. I was sure I'd give her a heart attack from how anxious she had been since my disappearance — there was no doubt she was protective, but it was justified, I suppose. We only had each other and she deemed me the light of her life, if anything were to happen to me she'd be sent into a frenzy — thankfully I had been presented with my phone while in... that place... and was able to make a call the ease her. I hope that never happens again, for both of us. I think she'd break completely and I don't know if I'd escape again... I guess I was just lucky and should feel much confidence over it, looking how much more anxious my mother was since I had "gone missing", I don't think I could pride myself on getting out in one piece — it hurt the others around me way more.

But, there isn't much I can do, time can't be reversed and scars can't be forgotten. All I can do is be careful and even more considerate— I don't want to lose my mother or any of my friends.

I'd feel better if I forgot, let this all be a nightmare I'd eventually wake up from.

————

I never fancied reading. Books often took to long to make it to the main plot and I'd be bored before the story even started. I didn't find comfort in them, really, I just used them as a way to not talk to people sometimes. The millions of words encased on a pale and boring piece of paper were normally causes to my headache. I didn't like to sit down and focus on this one subject, boredom taking over my mind and letting my eyes wander away from the pages and to something more interesting while I'd subconsciously tap my foot against the hard ground.

I didn't like make-up work — it was only one day that I had missed, but several sheets of paper were sent my way and forced me to sit for a long time and strictly keep my attention on the many words scattered across the page.

For the next few days the school had let me out and made me take time to rest at home. I wasn't really drained, but any excuse to miss school, I'd use it. I knew the consequences but anything was better than sitting in long boring hours of math or language arts I desperately wanted to escape from. But I wasn't allowed the option to choose and whatever assignments I needed were sent to me by Yuki and Etsuko who both dedicated their after schools to dropping those papers directly on my doorstep.

I'd open my door to a stack of items, candy and homework both collected on the mat in front of the door with a little sticky note on top. I couldn't deny a smile until I had actually sat down to do the work.

Who made writing proofs so difficult?

I'd huff and lean my head against the table looking around the small dining room with more curiosity than ever. Things that were  consistent — something I've practically memorized — had become something incredibly infatuating. The corner of the room, the tables wood, and the lights were all something that I found myself staring at for entertainment.

At least things were peaceful... at least I'm home.

"Are you doing your homework or just laying there." A voice startled me from my thoughts, skepticism lacing their tone.

"I'm thinking deductively according to — " I hit the paper with my pointer finger, tapping at a question on the pages of my workbook, "This question here." I mumbled into the pages, my pencil discarded as I laid down. "Have you tried calling your friend?"

"Busy." I mumbled out with a growing irk from the irritating multitude of assignments. "The one with the short, dark hair?" She pointed at her own hair and I narrowed my eyes.

"Yuki has marching practice." I reminded monotonously, my voice blunt and unamused.

She hummed out a sigh, my mother holding a coffee mug in her hand. She'd be working tonight, but didn't know how to present it to me, I could tell by her posture and pattern. Maybe I'm actually getting good at inductive and deductive reasoning...

She was silent for a moment her eyes looking out the window and watching the grey sky. "I hope Doctor Shino's not charge nurse." I leaned my head up, my chin leaning on the stack of pages my hands falling to my sides as I stared blankly at the wall. "Oh... well, I'll see when I get there..." She brought the mug to her lips and blew against the heated liquid, puffs of smoke pushed out. "You've got a few h ours before you go, right?" I lifted my head to look at my mother, she nodded with a glance at her watch.

"Get some sleep or something." I mumbled softly with a shrugged suggestion. My hands took place in my lap with no intention of picking up the pencil or flipping the page of my workbook.

"Well excuse me, ma'am, you don't get to order me around." A small smile etched across her face, hiding the tiredness. "Sorry." I mumbled looking down at the homework I was reluctant to do. "Finish up, (Y/N)... and while I'm gone," She hung around the corner looking for my attention that slowly drifted from the blank walls to her.

"Please, for the live of god, don't do anything stupid — and I mean that, seriously."