A girl lay in the sterile white sheets. Nurses had given her warm ones but somehow she still felt cold. Skin clammy and beaded with sweat. Activity happened near her and away from her. People tending to others in turn. It would be her turn soon.

The girl had been in this position before.  She knew what it meant. That it led to pain and struggle. Even then, the situation rarely goes as expected. This could be one of those times. She lay still in the bed as if she could become one with it. Watching the clock when she was fit to keep her eyes open. Even when her eyes were shut however, she felt every second tick by. It felt like a doomed march much slower than her own heart rate. As time passed, it began to change. With eyes closed, it lulled her. Guided her away from the frantic circles she knew so well. Reassuring that time would continue on even after the darkness came for her finally. It lulled her into a new novel idea: what if instead of pain, she merely dreamed?

Dreams were not a new concept for her. In fact, she had her best ones in the darkest places. Containers of the familiar in the foreign. Holders of comfort where there was none. Miracles when reality rejected them. There could be no bad dreams, for she was already facing the worst of her fears. Any measure of protection would be enough.

Yes, she would dream. Starting long before it was her turn. Submerged before the darkness came. Numbing out the pain like the best anesthetic. Protecting until it was time to wake again. The ticking of the clock finally matching with her heart before it was all over.

***

~Nicole here. I wanted to let everyone know I have begun the process of collecting poems for another poetry volume. The chosen poems will be treated the same way as with the first book and archived. I will update again closer to release but get ready for “Anesthetic Dreams”!