Stopwatch Children

And Then I Realize

And Then I Realize

I stand alone at a cross roads. The silence surrounding me is still like stagnant water.

A dock of sorts shaped like an octagon, alone in the middle I look to see the bridges leading off into the dark beyond my sight.

The fog rushes in making me wonder if I really am alone.

I hear no noise, I swing my body limp and relaxed looking for something but my mind is confused. I don't remember what I was doing here, if I came alone or how I came to be standing here.

Everything blurs at the edges and my head is spinning; one second I'm standing here warm in my sweater, pajama pants wet at the bottom from the soggy wood under my feet. The next, my sweater is gone leaving me bare foot in my t-shirt and more confused than before.

I shiver looking over my too skinny shoulders hugging my too thin waist to keep warm. I think of taking a path unsure of which to pick.

I listen for a sound wondering if my ears are broken. I listen close at the edge of each bridge but still there is no noise.

I look around in the center once more still wondering where this is. The fog getting thicker and cutting off the hum that silence emits.

Not a sound at all, the world around me quiet as I shake from the cold but not feeling it in my bones. The fog clogs my vision cutting me off from this strange world looking around at all the docks I could take and maybe they would lead me away from this silent fog.

I stand still and calm my hands at my sides' hair tickling my shoulders as a slight breeze swings by. I think I hear a noise, not sure of myself I swivel searching but finding nothing.

Then again a whistle, closer; I look but still myself, there is no noise, no wind, no patter of feet on the boards I stand, not even the slightest rustle from my clothing as I turn.

I look at my feet the fog starting to swallow them as I watch and wonder again how I got here.

Am I alone?

A whistle again, but then nothing, my mind stills becoming part of the fog and the silence not wanting to disturb anything.

My muscles tense and when I go to scream my mind bristling from the loss of noise. My lungs have no air and then I realize; I'm dead.

EpO