I'm hallucinating.
I tried sleeping but I can't. Keep hearing myself breathing. That familiar tempo of air exiting my nostrils like faint waves on a beach. It's that same nightmare I had since a kid.
Deep breaths; haunting taunts. Shadows, silhouettes. Wrinkled old fingers, yellowed nails tapping an ancient oak table. And the face. I will never forget that grey face. A mosaic of features I created; a monochromatic avatar - born out of fiction, fuelled by ghoulish imagination.
And it is staring at me from my monitor.
Broken, flashing images of its pale, sweaty cheeks. Old eyes on an otherwise youthful disposition. Bruised lips tried to coax my attention. But I'm a conscious participant. No escape, since slumber never came. And each time I try to turn my face away, the visions became more intense behind my eyelids. The taunts are getting louder. I can almost make out its pleas. The eyes are no more alluring, it's commanding my gaze. I'm usually awake by now.
Get a grip, calm down. Play some music - My Chemical Romance - why the hell not. Distract yourself. You know 48hrs of sleep deprivation would do that to someone.
Calm down. Slow your breathing and focus.
Been awake since Friday. Give me till Tuesday and Fandy's a dead man.
It's been a tiring 2 weeks. The climax being the sending off of Bb at the airport on Friday evening and staying awake expecting my mobilization to activate early on Saturday. My bad, I know, but I just couldn't sleep believing that a certain someone so dear had deliberately been snatched away.
A fortnight ago my bestest friend came back after a lengthy overseas stay.
For fourteen days I had a special someone to hug almost every night.
A half moon back, my evenings never looked so bright.
I finally laughed my laugh.
I soon realized one early Saturday morning that happiness is a privilege, and loneliness a constant.
It only hits you when you're in a cab all by yourself and stare at the seat beside you hoping to see her turn and smile back.
Her palm warming your cold fingers.
Her smile a blanket for the heart.
I remember that smile.
So I can sleep now.
No more bad thoughts.
No more nightmares.
I sleep.