Caged

Dazed.

I take a deep breath and realise I was holding it for quite a while. My head throbs and my vision is blurred. I stumble back just a little bit, but I stop myself by placing my hand on the cold surface of the metal table in the back of the room. I get my bearings and steady just enough to take a shuffled three steps to the right and slide my entire body down the freezing wall. I can feel it through the thin button down I was wearing. Of all the times my clothing actually mattered, it had to be now...

My arms are hugging my legs tightly to my chest. I think it hurts. It should hurt. Does it hurt? I let out a breath long overdue. I was holding my breath again.

I loosen the grip I have on my legs and move a hand to my face. It's cold. Or am I hot? I can't tell. I return the hand back to it's designated place on my legs and resume making myself as small as possible in this small room. It seems only fitting.

I open my eyes hours later. I think. I can't tell time in here. It feels like it's morning, though. And the lights are on. Dim, but they're there. Congratulations, Alex. You made it another night.