Trying to live peacefully in a dark dystopian tragedy novel.

It all happens so fast. One moment, he stood in the crowded train station platform, waiting for the train to stop so we could get in and go home. It had been a hot, grueling day at work, and he had been looking forward to just going home, grabbing some food on the way, and then chilling and playing games to destress. In the next moment, he felt the sensation of a hand pushing him from the back. He vaguely recalls falling forward towards the side of the still-moving train.

And then nothing.

Did he… Die?  Just like that? But why? Who did it? How could this have happened? What about his parents? His siblings? His one potted plant was at his house, and he left his apartment a mess that morning. His family's going to have to come and clean that up. He wished he had thrown the trash last night to lessen their burden. And money has been a problem for his folks lately. That's why he's been taking extra shifts at work to try and help out more. They're going to have to use their savings to arrange for his funeral. Are his papers even remotely sorted? Will his parents get to receive his savings from the bank? They weren't much, but it's all he had. Hopefully, it'll help with his brother and sisters' college tuition. How do these things work?! he was 24 years old! He didn't think of preparing for any of these!

There were still so many things he wanted to do as well! He shouldn't have put off going to that new restaurant across his work for too long. Maybe He should've agreed to that blind date his friend wanted to set him up last month. He's never even had a girlfriend! His previous conversation with his little sister was a bit tense. Maybe he should have been nicer about her new boyfriend. He should've spent a bit more time with his little brother, who wanted to come and visit him in the city. 

So many thoughts breezing past his mind that he could barely keep up. Then it occurred to him…

Where was he?

He seems to be still conscious somehow. He was able to think. But that's the only thing he could do. There was no other sensation. He could not hear or smell or see or feel anything. 

Oh my God, is this what it's like to be dead? You just float in this dark abyss, conscious? This is hell! This is actual hell!! This can't be happening!!!

He felt himself starting to panic, but what could he do? He started screaming in his mind.

Aaaaaaahhhhh!!! Let me out, let me out!!!! Someone!!!! Anyone!!!!!

Then, suddenly, an overwhelming rush of sensation surrounded him. He could hear a thunderous heartbeat and felt his whole body constrained. Oh god, what was happening?! He couldn't breathe! So he struggled against the feeling. He heard voices! They sounded panicked about something.

Ah, did he fall on the train track? Perhaps people are trying to help him. He opened his mouth to say something when suddenly he was surrounded by a bright light, and a cold breeze hit his body. 

He heard a loud baby crying! A very loud baby, geez kid, calm down. I'm the one that's injured here. He felt a handle over his body, but it felt weird. Too many sensations, too many voices. It was hurting his ears. And the crying still hasn't stopped. 

Then he felt someone holding him close to their body. He could hear the heartbeat of the person. It was a woman! She was saying something to him, but he couldn't understand. 

Too close, lady. That was what he wanted to say. But the shushing sound she was making and her heartbeat felt so calming. The crying stopped. Maybe it was the baby's mother. Suddenly, he felt tired. He seems all right now, as the people around him have calmed down.

So, he guessed it was safe for him to go to sleep. 

He can't think anymore; the shushing was so comforting. He will take a little nap, and when he wakes up, he'll sort out everything else.

Then he went to sleep, cradled in his mother's embrace.