Insomnia

Why is this happening? Why us? Why, of all people, why us?

"I'm so sorry. As of now, the only thing that we can do is wait."

Why does it have to happen to her?

I shifted my gaze from the doctor to what is currently happening around me. Almost everyone is sad. Some are even shivering from the cold air coming from the hospital's air-conditioning. A small flat screen TV on the wall is quietly playing what I know is a movie about dogs, that may help to distract people like us from our problems.

"Sleep. Please rest. You've been here for two days now. That last thing we want is for you to get sick, too." The doctor smiled at me before leaving. My heart feels heavy. I still can't believe it. Why would she do this? What was my sister thinking?

I stood there for a few minutes. A few minutes inside a hospital feels like hours. Standing there, I heard a little boy from the next room crying and calling out his father's name. This is the harsh reality of life. You'll never know when you'll lose someone. No warnings provided. No announcements given. No extensions offered.

I finally decided to go inside my sister's hospital room. Unlike outside, all I can hear inside is the beeping sound of the machine beside her bed. She looks so…helpless. This is not the person I knew. This is not the person I grew up with.

I sat down next to her and held her hand. Three days ago, she texted me that she's done with work and will probably go home early. Three days ago, she cooked her favorite meal for dinner. Now…here she is. Unconscious. For two days. Comatose.

Therefore, I hate 'Life' and its way of being unpredictable.

Fishing out my phone from my pocket, I saw that it's already 6 in the morning. I stared outside the window to see the sun peeking behind the tall buildings of Manila. Me and my sister grew up here. Raised by our grandmother ever since I was born.

My sister's doctor is right, I should rest. Plus, I think the black coffee I drank earlier is not working it's magic anymore. I stood up to close the curtains. With no extra bed for me, I have no choice but to sleep on the sofa.

Closing my eyes felt a relief. I just hope that sleeping means I can finally take my mind off from what's happening right now. But I just couldn't sleep. What if I sleep and my sister suddenly wakes up?

"Aerith."

I opened my eyes and laid there, blinking. Did I just hear someone call out my name? I looked at my sister and she's still unconscious. And I know for sure that it sounded…like a man.

Is it because I'm so sleepy? That I'm so tired to the point that I'm hallucinating?

Closing my eyes again, I convinced myself that maybe I'm just imagining things. But, to my surprise, I heard it again. As if it's whispering beside me.

"Aerith…sleep. Please listen to me, you have to sleep."

I jolted from the sofa and looked around. My heart is pounding from my chest and I'm sweating profusely. I want to stand up and check outside if there's someone on the other side of the door but I'm trembling so much I couldn't even move my legs.

"Aerith, don't be scared. Just close your eyes and sleep."

That finally made me ran out of the room towards the elevator. Who the hell is that?! Is it a ghost?

"Uhm, are you okay?"

I whipped around and looked at the guy seating on a wheelchair. He looks like he's the same age as me.

"You're alive, right?" I asked. He tilted his head and looked at me as if I said something weird.

"Thankfully, I am. And you? Are you alive?"

I heard a hint of sarcasm from his tone but honestly, I'm just relieved that he's human and not some demonic ghost. He held out his hand. "I'm Cyd."

"Aerith."

"Hello Aerith." He pointed at his wheelchair. "I'm so clumsy that I broke my right knee and my right arm. What about you? Why are you here?"

"My sister, Blair, is in a coma. It might take a while for her to wake up."

"What happened to her?"

I avoided my gaze from him. "Why would I tell you?"

"Cyd!" I saw a woman in a nurse uniform running towards us. "I told you to never go outside your room! You have to rest!"

"Well, gotta go!" Cyd said before escaping from his nurse. "Nice to meet you, Aerith!"

I looked at him before going back inside Blair's room. Meeting Cyd made me forget about the voice that I heard earlier. As usual, the silence inside the room is deafening. I don't like being alone. Being alone means being quiet. Quiet means I can hear my mind, my problems…my fears.

As if on cue, I heard it again.

"Aerith, all you need to do is to fall asleep so I can finally meet you. Will you do that for me?"

I know I am alone. Aside from my sister, I'm just the only one here. Will it finally stop if I sleep?

Fine. I laid down and slowly closed my eyes. As I feel myself drifting off on the sofa, I felt a strong gush of wind. What is happening? Instead of lying down, why do I feel like I'm standing up?

Opening my eyes, I almost had a heart attack when I finally see where I am. How did I get here? Why am I here? Am I dreaming?

I'm… A few seconds ago, I'm in my sister's hospital room. Now…

I'm on the top of a building and with just a slight push, I can fall to death.

"Help!" I shouted. I'm so scared of heights. I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my chest. I can't die here. I can't die now.

I felt myself losing balance. Maybe this is how I'm going to die. Unexpected. No warnings provided. No announcements given. No extensions offered. I closed my eyes before calling for help for the last time.

This is how my life ends.

Suddenly a strong set of arms enveloped my waist and pulled me back. We both fell on the floor and I can feel the guy breathing beside me.

I pushed him to finally get to see his face. He looked at me with his hazel nut eyes. He looked irritated while I'm just…speechless. I don't know what to say.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked.

I honestly want to say that I don't know. I don't know why I'm here. I don't know where I am. Heck, I don't even know how I got here.

I was just trying to sleep.