A lost slumber

IX

It's been a week and 4 days since we gave our presentation. A week of analyzing the bits and pieces of my dreams. Trying to piece together the puzzle. I try not to focus on that today. Today is the day that they update the grades for the presentation. I try not to stress myself out , but the day seems to drag on until 5th period. Everyone was crowding the United States Government classroom by the time 5th period came about. I don't have time to wait all day for the line. I barely have the energy for people let alone a presentation grade today. Everything went really face paced during 5th and I lost my sense of concentration. We gathered by the roster at the end of 5th period. We passed with a 99%. I wonder why we were off by 1%.

Renzo looks at the roster and shouts , " Looks like we are having a party."

Ezme looks at me and asks me , " You coming ?"

I want to answer but I become cautious. My breath becomes thin paced and suddenly I'm engulfed in a cold sweat. My eyes become heavy and I'm drowsy. " Not again." I think. My body can't act up now. I manage to dryly say , " No."

" Why not ?" Ezme asks.

" I don't feel so good." I say pacing myself.

" Oh no ," Ezme says in an alarmed tone. " Now that you mention it , you do look pale ."

" It's okay , I'm just tired. " I say pausing for breath. "I just barely had the energy for today."

" Are you okay ? Do you need me to stay with you after school?" Ezme asks.

" I'm okay. I think I'll go home early." I say.

" You sure ?" Ezme asks.

" Yeah I'll be fine," I say. " Have fun and stay safe okay?"

" Yeah, Okay." Ezme says. " Bye. Get better okay?"

"Bye." I say as I stagger away to my locker. I texted my mom, told her I wasn't feeling good , and she notified the school. They let me go , but I had to leave my car in the parking lot. My mom picked me up since she wanted to make sure I was okay.

I seemed fine during the car ride home , but I had barely made it five feet into the house , when I dropped to the floor. The last thing I could hear was muffled footsteps and the screams of my mom.

I was cold and I felt isolated. 'Where was I ?' I asked myself. There was nothing but solidarity darkness. There was only me , like always. Only this time I couldn't escape the loneliness I felt. No one would knock on the door and disrupt my thoughts. I had to deal with it myself. It was only a matter of seconds that passed , but those seconds felt like years.

Then there wasn't silence, only laughter that echoed with cruelty. " Where are we ?" The voice asked.

'What the hell,' I think to myself. 'This isn't real' I think.

" Oh but it is," the voice says sternly.

" Then answer my question." I shout.

" Where are we?" The voice asks again, repeating itself.

" That is the million dollar question," I say.

" We are in what we call the ' lost'." The voice says sinisterly.

" The lost?" I asked, shocked. " What is the lost?"

" Well here is where you are getting confused, the 'lost' isn't a place of being but rather a place of mind." The voice says.

' So I'm going insane.' I think to myself.

" Well not really." The voice says.

" Then would you care to enlighten me on what is going on?" I ask.