It Hurts

Darkness.

It surrounded me.

I couldn't see anything but black.

All I could hear was the unnerving silence of the void.

Where was I?

Am I dead?

My thoughts shrieked inside my head,

It hurt.

◇─◇──◇─────◇──◇─◇

He awoke and watched at the ceiling.

He didn't blink, just stared.

He couldn't move.

His heart was racing, the beating in his chest was quickening.

He could feel it.

He started to panic, he didn't know where he was, he couldn't see anything other than the ceiling, and all he heard was the ringing in his ears.

All he knew was that he was alive, in what he assumed was a white room.

His eyes hurt.

The noise of a faint beeping noise faded in.

It was continuous, non-stop.

His ears hurt.

He shut his eyes, the darkness of his eyelids soothed the pain.

He wished he could do the same with his ears.

He wanted to cover his ringing ears, he wanted to stop the continuous beeping.

He wanted to scream.

But he couldn't.

His heartbeat quickened, so did the beeping.

He wanted to cry but he couldn't.

He was scared.

He was paralyzed.

He couldn't do anything.

The beeping continued.

◇─◇──◇─────◇──◇─◇

A few nurses opened the door and surrounded the boy.
His heart was racing and although it wasn't very clear, you could see his right-hand twitching, as if it wanted to push away the nurses.
Loud muffled voices echoed the room, the boy couldn't make out what they were saying.
He didn't want to.
It hurt.
He wanted them to leave.

And as if on command, his right hand began to thrash violently.
It hit the bed 27 times.
It hit the rim 7 times.
He felt like he needed to count.

The nurses gently pressed down the boy's hand making sure not to injure it.
They cried out something the boy couldn't understand, it was all muffled after all.
And yet, he felt frightened.

His left hand began to move, it was more violent and intense.
It hit the rim 25 times.
On the 26th time, the rim echoed a loud ring.
He wanted to scream.

And as if on cue, something sharp and thin was punctured into his neck.
He didn't feel anything.
His hands calmed down as he slipped back into the void.

It hurt.