Salt Lake

Ivan

I kept failing until I didn't.

The ropes kept putting me to sleep the minute I stopped moving, just like it had, but this time was different. I focused on Nefra, wanting to at least dream about her, but I didn't try to force it. Doing that just made the dreams chaotic, and the memories splintered. All I wanted was to see, touch, and tell her how much I loved her and that I'd be okay. Even if she wasn't there, I needed to do those things, or I'd go crazy. Because the truth was, I wasn't okay, and I wouldn't be.

It was getting harder to stay awake and still.

My body ached, but the second I moved, the pain worsened to the point that Jessica's attempts to pull them off my skin weren't enough anymore. At one point, I was awake when they came to check on me, but it only lasted a few seconds before the darkness consumed me again. My only satisfaction was hearing the guy checking on me curse and demand to see Melissa. Why did they need me awake?