Hear Me

7

7

My stomach remained contorted, it still paining me when I woke up. I stayed still in the bed as memories of the night before flooded back to me. The mattress dipped beside me. Hudson slid into view as he made his way to the bedroom door. He shot me a quick quizzical glance.

"I don't feel very well. I'll be up in a few minutes."

He accepted my answer and left the room.

Resting an arm across my face, I inhaled deeply. My entire body was clenched, leaving sections of tense pain resting around my body. I shut my eyes and tried to lull myself back to sleep. A knot of fear was deeply nestled in my chest. The mere idea of leaving this room was terrifying. The bedroom door clicked open. I moved my arm away from my face to see Hudson waiting by the door.

"If you don't feel well, why don't you just stay in bed for a bit longer?"

I nodded and rolled onto my stomach.

"Alright. I'm going to work. See you later."

The door clicked shut and I was left in silence.

I don't know how much time had passed before I managed to heave myself out of the bed. With my stomach feeling full of stress and panic, I made the decision to skip breakfast. After dressing myself, I quietly slipped out the front door. A small jolt jumped through me because of the guard's sudden leap to attention. My stomach squirmed sickeningly as I waited for him to clasp me in his rough hands and cart me away. But he just let out a grunt of an apology before leaning back against the wall.

I stayed still. Is he not going to do anything? Surely Hudson's information would have reached all security already.

"Everything alright ma'am?" His voice was low, but not in an angry way, instead just a natural tone.

He doesn't know.

I straightened myself and nodded. My shoes began to click on the floor while I strode down the corridor, my aim being to keep my quivering legs from collapsing. A hidden smile tingled at my lips.

He doesn't know.

Kim was seated in the corner of the room by the time I made my arrival. I scurried over and shook her waiting hand before being instructed to find a book to read. Images of the book Kim was forcing me to finish blared in my head. I don't recall ever reading so slow. Not even when I first learnt how to read. But there was something special about this particular book. It has the unique ability to send me asleep within minutes. I was forced to pace myself and go so slow in order to stay awake.

Every inch of that book was engrained in my mind. Once I approached the bookshelves, it instantly stood out. My fingers gently rubbed against its spine without removing it from its place. A dull feeling settled inside of me. I really don't want to have to read this stupid thing again.

Slowly, a warm feeling crawled up my back as a stream of sunlight covered the bookshelf. I pulled the book into my hands before turning to face the sun. The sudden brightness forced my eyes to close while a comforting warmth spread over my face. I took a few cautious blind steps forward before my eyes adjusted and I could reopen them.

The colourful blurriness faded to reveal a golden outside. The sky was just one gradient of captivating yellows and oranges. Lower down rested a sea of lush green, full of grass, trees, and flowers. The feeling the glow of the sun grew my desire to go outside. I pressed my palm to the window, letting the heat radiate into it.