The world slipped in and out of focus.
The ebb and flow reminded him of the beach. Harsh waves rolling and losing momentum until they arrive, softly kissing the shore. He remembered the beach like one remembers an old friend. Remembered the days when the family would get together, lounge around, and share stories. Remembered a time when everyone was laid back, long before the days of his youth slipped from under him. Before the world hardened his heart, before he became so bitter. The more he closed his eyes, the more he could block out the darkness within himself. The easier it became to breathe. He was able to see what peace felt like for the first time in 47 years.
He felt a surge of energy within himself. And with the energy came pain. His fantasy of a beach slipped from his view. He could feel his tired, heavy green eyes being opened and the brightest light swarmed his vision. He couldn't hear what was going on, only a ringing in his ears. Excruciating pain flooded through every inch of his being. He wanted to go back to that peace, travel through space and time if only to see the beach one more time. But he was scared. He tried to lift his weary eyes again, but they were much more resistant. He could no longer feel the energy he was bursting with moments ago. He felt like he was drowning and tried with all he had to shout, to call for help. He was only able to manage a weak groan, but he began to hear people moving around. He began to register the steady beep of a heart monitor, the rattling rasp of a respirator.
Fear gripped his thoughts. He was consumed by it - he needed answers. What happened? He shifted his gaze around the room, there were 2 women standing to his left, looking over some forms and writing something down on a clipboard. He noticed they never looked at him; it was like he wasn't there. He wanted to leap out of the bed and run out of the room. Surely then he would turn some heads. But he still couldn't lift a finger, let alone move his legs. He tried again to call out, but stopped once he heard the sound of his own voice. It was foreign to his ears. One of the nurses stopped writing and looked at him.
"Oh dear, he's woken up. Sharon, please sedate this man. I can see it in his eyes, he's in so much pain."
He tried to object; he didn't want to be sedated. He wanted answers. Why was he in pain? What happened? Why was he there?
But most of all, he just wanted to know who he was.
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