text: Waking up I felt odd. It was dark. *It must still be night.* I feel light-headed and nauseous. *Maybe a glass of water will help. Wait a minute. Why can't I move? It feels impossible. I don't understand...* Suddenly a voice started talking somewhere near me. It's close but I can't figure out what it's saying. *Why can't I hear what it is saying?* It feels really close, right next to me, almost on my shoulder. Wait. There is something on my shoulder. Something touching me. *What is it? Why can't I take a look?* There is another voice now, somewhere in the room I'm guessing. I can't feel my body. *What is happening to me?* The voices are clearer now. I can make out some of the words. "... small chance... terribly sorry... can't do..." *What are they talking about. And who are they? I'm so confused. I don't understand.* I feel very tired. I don't know why, I mean I just woke up. I struggle to stay awake but it's too difficult to fight it. I fall back asleep. \_\_\_ I woke up again. My mind feels clearer than it did before. However my body feels numb. I still can't move a muscle. It feels super weird. It can't possibly still be dark so why can't I see? I can hear clearer than yesterday, so at least that's something. I still don't understand what's going on. Wait. Someone is talking again. A woman. "Don't worry, everything will be okay. It's going to work out." That voice sounds familiar but I can't place it. *Wait. Are they crying? Why? What's going on?!* "We should go talk to the doctor now." That's a different voice. "Don't you think we should wait? Give him a chance? Maybe he will get better. Maybe..." "You know what they said, dear. There's no chance for him to get through this. We need to take action." "He'll make it, he just needs a little more time. If we could just wait for a bit..." "It doesn't matter how long we wait, love. He's not here anymore. He's... not himself." *Wait what? Are they talking about me?* "Come on. Let's talk to the doctor now." I can hear their footsteps fading away. *Who are those people? And why are they talking about me like I'm not even here?! Why can't I remember anything?! Not a single thing! I don't know where I am or why or what is going on. I don't remember anything from before this.* I can feel the panic taking over my body and there's nothing I can do. I can just lay here. Wherever here is. Eventually I calm down but the panic attack had exhausted me and so I fall asleep yet again. \_\_\_ I wake up hearing multiple voices. They are talking quietly so I can't make out what they're saying. I can hear that the woman from before is crying again. I would like to know what upsets her so. And why is it that I can hear her. I'm getting used to not moving. It is how things are for me now I suppose. It's quiet. They're not talking anymore but I can sense they're still present. Suddenly I feel nauseous and a fatigue takes over me. I have an urge to fall asleep but I just woke up. *What is happening to me?* This time the urge to sleep is overwhelming and it feels different. It's almost comforting. *What could happen if I drift to sleep one more time, right?* And so I do. I let go. I let the darkness consume me.