You Don't Come Close.

16

When I wake up I am dizzy as fuck. I can't see anything, but I know something is terribly wrong. Like a bad dream, unreal somehow and there's a slight panic, telling me I need help. That I'm in serious danger. I try to move but nothing seems to work. There's a strong smell of wet asphalt and a intensive metallic hint.

Warm and cold, pulsing shudders are washing over me. I try to move my hand, but my arm is so heavy. The ground under me is cold but I feel a spreading warmth from my shoulder down to my elbow and slowly further. It's a sticky, wet warmth. Am I high? I am tired. I'm so, so tired, slowly sinking into a welcomed darkness of numbness.

Whispered, soft voices from all around me. From far away. I want them to shut up. Let me sleep...just let me sleep...

'Slash...Slash...'

No...

'Don't...Slash...Open...'

Leave me alone. So tired. I'm drifting.

'Slash...stay...stay...'- "Stay awake Slash! Fuckin'stay awake!!!"

Bang.

I think I'm screaming.

The lights are on and suddenly it's crashing down on me from all sides. Sound, images- it's so loud! The dark night sky, neon lights, cars, people and pain. So much pain it's not bearable, making me sick.

"Yes! Don't close your eyes! Oh my fuckin' god, stay with me! Fuck, fuck...oh god...look at me, c'mon look at me! Slash!"

My view clears and suddenly there's Axl face. His hair wet from rain, his eyes wide and shocked.

"Yes. Yes, like that. Can you hear me?"

I want to answer, but it seems like I lost my voice. Maybe I'm nodding, cause his face relaxes, even just a little bit. His hands are at my head, holding my neck up and when he rubs his face in a short, agonized movement with one hand I can see red, crusty fingers. Is it blood?

"A-re you...hurt...?" My voice is so weak I can barely hear it by myself, but Axl seems to, as he looks at me, surprised, then closes and opens his eyes heavily for a few times, blinking tears away, his lips pressed together to a thin, white line.

"No...no...I'm ok...you...Oh shit...just keep on talking ok? Stay awake."

The realization is slowly, painfully slowly dripping into my head and I turn my face slightly to the side, facing that wet warmth on my arm. I'm covered in blood. My shirt is totally ripped, sticky, light red liquid pouring from my shoulder into the cloth and on my hands, mixing up with rain water on the ground. I let out a low whine, realizing the pain once again, but Axl takes my head in both hands again, making me face him.

"Look at me. Just look at me. They'll be here soon, ok?"

He's stroking my hair, tears running down his whole face now, but I barely recognize anything, the pain growing so strong its knocking me out, pushing me into unconsciousness again.

"No! No, no, no! Stay awake!"

My view is dark again.

"Fuck! Help him! Help him motherfuckin' assholes!!!"

There are more hands at my body, voices I can't recognize and I can hear Axl whining out in what sounds like fear and despair and pain- then everything is blacking out.

---

Where am I?

I can't move. I can't open my eyes.

It's quiet.

So, so quiet, but there's much light, creating a dim orange curtain under my closed eyes.