Whispers of a nightmares

Sorry

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft rays across the cluttered kitchen. I sat at the table, absentmindedly swirling my spoon in a bowl of soggy cereal. The milk was turning a weird shade of beige, but I couldn't be bothered to eat. My eyes drifted to the pile of dishes in the sink, then to my dad's glasses sitting on the counter. He must have left them there last night, once again passed out in front of his laptop.

Everything felt so...different.

I sighed, pushing the cereal away. I wasn't hungry, just restless. I looked at the clock. "Five minutes late? Pfft, I've got time." For once, I wasn't rushing. For once, I didn't care. I'd apologize to Sachiko later, maybe even skip the morning altogether and spend it on the rooftop.

I grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder and heading out the door. The streets were already buzzing with people, Tokyo's usual chaotic hum enveloping me. My mind was somewhere else, though. I couldn't stop replaying the argument.Her hurt expression... the way I'd snapped at her. I knew I needed to apologize.

---

By the time I reached school, it was already in full swing. I figured I'd find Sachiko by her locker, so I wandered through the hallways until I saw her. She was with Sakura, laughing at something, but the moment she saw me, her smile faltered.

"Hey," I said awkwardly, shuffling my feet. "Can we talk?"

Sachiko glanced at Sakura, then nodded. "Sure."

We moved to a quieter spot near the stairwell. My heart pounded. I wasn't great with apologies, but I knew this one had to be made.

"I'm sorry about what I said yesterday," I blurted out. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I was just... stressed and I took it out on you. It wasn't fair."

Sachiko blinked at me, her face softening. "You were a bit of a jerk," she said with a smirk, but there was no malice in her voice. "But I get it. We all have shit days."

Relief washed over me. "Thanks," I muttered. "I promise, no more snapping. I'll just keep my shit to myself."

"Yeah, maybe do that," she teased, punching my arm lightly.

Just as I was about to reply, the bell rang, and I figured I'd head to class. I waved goodbye, feeling lighter. I turned the corner a bit too fast, and before I knew it, my foot slipped on some spilled water in the hallway. My head hit the ground hard, and everything went black.

---

When I woke up, I was lying on a bed in the nurse's office. My body felt heavy, and when I tried to move, I realized I was covered in plasters—on my arms, my forehead, and even a couple on my knees.But no blood is sight.Good.
I groaned, my head still throbbing from the fall.

"You're awake," the school nurse said, walking over to check on me. "You took quite the tumble. You passed out for a bit, but you're mostly fine. Just a few scrapes and bruises."

"Great," I muttered, sitting up slowly. I looked ridiculous with all the plasters stuck on me like some kind of patchwork doll.

"Take it easy for the rest of the day, okay?" the nurse said. "If you feel dizzy again, come straight back here."

I nodded, but my mind was already wandering to band practice later. I didn't want to miss it, not today. Not when there was going to be a new member.

---

At band practice, the atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation. Everyone was in a pretty good mood, especially after Sachiko and I made up. I spotted Kairo drumming his fingers on a table, already looking antsy.

"So, about this new member," I said, leaning against the wall. "When's he showing up?"

Kairo looked up, his. "He'll be here later. He's... interesting, to say the least. Pretty Interesting , but I think you'll like him."

I raised an eyebrow. "Interesting, huh? Sounds like a great addition to this dysfunctional group."

Kairo chuckled. "Trust me, you've never met anyone like him. But you'll see for yourself soon enough."

We spent the rest of the practice playing through some old songs, though I struggled to stay focused. My head was still throbbing from the fall, and I was overly conscious of all the plasters on my skin. Everyone else seemed to notice, but they didn't say anything. I caught Sachiko glancing at me every now and then, as if she was making sure I wasn't going to keel over again.

As the session came to an end, the others packed up their instruments and left one by one. I lingered behind, plucking absentmindedly at the strings of my bass. The room was quiet now, save for the soft hum of the amps cooling down.