Sketch

Chapter 1 - Pain

My erratic breathing comes out in puffs of cold air as I walk through the dimly lit park. The sound of my footsteps on the soft grass seem loud in the silence of night. But no where near as loud as the screaming, flashing images I'm seeing before my eyes.
My mind is racing so fast, that it's impossible to catch up with the pictures zooming past. I close my eyes and concentrate, to try and make sense of any of the images. But as soon as I catch a glimpse, it flits to the next one. All I see is blurred faces and colour. My head throbs painfully. It's never been this bad before.

Suddenly, a sharp stab of pain pierces through my mind like a dagger. I squeeze my eyes shut and clutch at my head with my hands in a desperate hope to keep it from falling apart.

I wobble unsteadily on my feet, then stumble against a nearby tree and slide down until I'm sitting on the damp grass. I think I scraped my elbow on the rough bark of the tree, but I can't feel anything except the excruciating pain in my head. The pictures are now intensifying even more, screeching incomprehensible words over and over at me.

What are you saying?! Please leave me alone! I yell at the voices in my head, but it's no use.

Then, somewhere amongst the jumbled noises, I hear something recognisable.

"Scarlett.."

I search frantically behind my eyelids for the origin of the voice.

"Scaaarrlett.."

The harmonic voice drags out my name slowly, making my blood run ice cold.

"You need to come back to us Scarlett."

"Help us."

I hardly notice the tears that are now streaming down my face.

"How?!"  This time I yell aloud to the darkness as well as the voices, proving my insanity.

At that moment, a pain so pure and intense stabs through my mind from all directions like burning hot needles, making the voices screech even louder. I open my mouth with the intention to scream, but no sound comes out.

I can't breathe. Black dots start to enter my vision.

Is this it? Am I going to die like this?

Then all at once, the pain is gone.

I gasp, breathing in lungfuls of cool air through my nose and mouth. Beads of sweat drip from my forehead, mixing in with the tears. My head still rests in my hands as I sit there with my back against the tree until my breathing begins to regulate.

Oh my god. I can't do this anymore.

Throughout my entire life I've been trying to convince myself that these flashing images are just some new form of migraine, that no doctor can explain. But I now know why. It's not difficult to make the connection. These flashing images have just kept getting worse throughout my life. Who knows what would happen if another one started? I shudder violently, but not from the cold. I press my hands to my temples and slowly rub in circular motions in attempt of easing the dull headache that's still present.

Now that my mind is clear, I'm aware of a stinging sensation on my arm. I peel my eyes open and take a look at my elbow, that's scraped and bleeding. I sigh, then pull a tissue out of my back pocket and dab the wound gingerly. I'm still emotionally a mess when I'm done cleaning up, but I get to my feet.

I can't keep doing this; trying to avoid the inevitable. It'll never end. I take a deep, long breath.. I know what I have to do.

It's so obvious now. How to stop the pain, how to stay alive.

I have to draw.

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A.N: Hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter of Sketch! Please take pity and don't ignore my sorrowful pleas; leave a vote!★ Also leave me some comments and feedback, I'd love to read them!

Sorry that this chapter is quite short, but I promise that future chapters will be longer. I just wanted to keep this one short, sharp and shiny. ;-)

Additional note: I imagine Scarlett to look like Nina Dobrev, but you guys can picture her however you'd like. It's your imaginations after all!

~ Sophie