Those You Left Behind

Chapter 1

I push my fingers against my chest, waiting. I feel no rhythmic beat. I push harder, still waiting, but only feel a tiny hum. I look up at the stars that we plastered on the ceiling three years ago. I take a deep breath. My chest does not rise. I push harder, willing there to be a beat, until I finally close my eyes. I can see him. He stands above me. His hair is starting to gray. He tells me it won't hurt.

I feel my eyelids droop. They close. Tape covers them. Across my mouth something is there that is making me breath. Even though its a dream I can still feel my weak body being cut into by the scalpel. I scream in pain, inside. I want to know what is happening. 

Then the dream ends and I awake. The moon is still high in the sky. I slowly drift back into nightmarish slumber.

He stands and looks down at me. His face is completely blank. A smear of olive on a masculine body. He reaches towards me. Offers to help me. Offers to save me. Then right after he says that he vanishes. I call out to him. Screaming for answers. Answers that I don't know because he left me behind.

***

I wake up as the sun is rises. Beads of sweat race down my forehead. I take deep breaths.

In, out. In, out. In, out.

Then Mako runs into my room.