No Strings On Me

Chapter 1

The birds swoop low over the lake, the low hum of buzzing insects disturbing the hot summer air as cicadas and crickets chirp their song to the slowly rising moon. Pale beams from the reflective globe in the sky cast deep shadows over Seán’s face, darkening the already prominent bags beneath his blue eyes. “It’s just for a few days Jackaboy, just to relax.” He lets out a heavy sigh, shoulders slumping, before turning to shuffle his way over creaking wooden floorboards to the decent sized bed. Scrubbing a pallid hand over his face, drawn tight with exhaustion, he sinks into the plush mattress still fully dressed with a hoodie and jeans.
    Seán barely manages to pull off his shoes before slipping into sleep, lanky body sprawled across the beige quilt. Down, down, down, he spiralled, flashes of green and red, echoing laughter. Jolting upright, he gasps for breath beneath the sweat soaked clothes weighing him down. His surroundings are dark, he can’t even see his hand in front of his face. It’s sweltering, hard to breath, it feels like the heat and darkness are pressing down in on him. Chest aching, he tries to stand but the ground just gives way beneath his feet, forcing him to stay down. It feels like something is holding him down. There's a laugh, a breath--
    The ringing of Seán’s phone disturbs his uneasy rest, staring at the shadows playing out across the ceiling as his phone pulses and shatters the silence with its shrill piercing pitch forcing his chest to push air in and out of his lungs. After a moment, he grasps the sleek black rectangle with a sweaty palm, briefly blocking the bright light of the screen. “Hello?”
    “Seán? Oh thank god, I thought something happened! Why didn’t you text me like you promised?” There's a long moment where the irishman tries to collect his jumbled thoughts, still disoriented by falling asleep so early compared to when he usually does. He rubs the back of his neck, blinking harshly at the stiff feeling of his contacts still in his eyes. Fuck, he must have fallen asleep in them. “Sorry Signe, I guess I just forgot.” His girlfriend sighs. “I was worried…” her voice is soft, layered thick with concern that Seán finally recognises and it instantly makes his stomach sick with guilt for making her worry about him.
    More awake now, he swings his feet over the side of the bed, kicking his shoes over to rest his socked feet on the cool wood flooring. “I didn’t mean to stress you out, I swear, it's just,” he sighs, tilting his head back to try and pry the dried contacts from his blue eyes. “It's been a long week.” Signe is silent long enough to worry Seán “I know. Get some rest.”
    “I will if you will.” She giggles and the sound of it seems to relax him somewhat, a genuine--if not tired--smile quirks his lips. “Hey Signe?” The soft sound of her questioning hum crackles across the line, if he closes his eyes, he can almost picture her there in bed next to him, warm and soft and there. “I love you.” Her laugh is more of a soft exhale “I love you to, now relax or I swear--!” Seán laughs, “ok, ok. See you soon.” The phone clicks, signalling the end of the call. His eyes open and he’s right back in his dark room, alone, a chill settling into his bones.
    The grey light of morning begins to creep over the horizon, filtering through the dusty windows of the cabin as Seán shambled to the kitchen, clattering about for something to eat. Alone with only thoughts, he cycles through them pretty quickly. Jumping from the thought of needing a radio to break the silence, to if he should shower today, to what he even wants to eat, to his phone call with Signe, back to that dream he had last night. It was only a vague memory but he felt like there was something weird with it. Frustrated at being unable to recall what he dreamt of, he settles for a PB&J sandwich only to find the bread has grown mold.
    Sighing, Seán decides to shower and then go shopping. This vacation has already started wonderfully.