Once His Nightmare, Now His Employee

AN's

beep..

hell is th

t felt too still, too heavy, like

eyelids felt like someone had

und the edges. White ceiling. Blinking lights

spi

ft my arm, but something tugged at me-

was I

tuning in only to cut out again. There was a shadow in the corner o

ed behind my eyes

appened

athing beside me. Quiet and

the dread settle

I wasn't sure who wa

ce shaking terribly, betraying the amou

seated position on the cha

ips-full, flushed, dangerous

me out of my imaginatio

. That voice... It was soothing a

ething?" He asked, movi

ressed on my chest. I tried to shift back, to p

ou?" I ask

It felt as though he had expected something much bet

.. Who

lideshow-Michael? Arnold? Francesco? Alex? No

ut the sudden fear was unexpectedly replaced by his soft to

" A voice cam

e to see the doctor walk in, accompa

that is part of his sickness' symptoms." The doctor expl

ic

dded faster. I searched my me

k of his right hand on my forehead. "Prett

hat's my name

.. I'

sudden. My mind went blank

Lo

your eyes." The doctor said softly as his right

. What'

eyelids, though heavy, fluttered. My muscles tens

oice was a ragged whisper, ba

udded in my ears, louder now. I tried to lift my arm. It felt... disc

e word melted

g slipped

up... And, I co

*

pen, greeted by the soft glow of

re a

no stranger at all. I jerked up immediately. I was in

g to my skin. Every breath felt borrowed, lik

once-back when we still had

hummed with lefto

l and I had been left alone to look out fo

asket in his hand. As soon as he laid his eyes on me, a smile spre

nan

pected me to call him first. He finally reached wh

electric unease his touch left behind. He wouldn'

here. I don't wan

e spending the night." Replying with his soft manly v

rid of the abnormal feeling. "Stop your

He replied,

, my voice low and sharp, like the

t possibly take care of her if you are not i

ight with emotion. "My mom's at home alone... and she

in my throat, fighting the hel

st so she can eat. If I stay here overnight, I will be burning th

"What kind of so

n't say out loud: That every second I spent lying in this bed felt like

s, lost your father, had no job, no one willing to help... and your mother was

wing with everything I

s hands stayed frozen by his sides, as if

ed on my casual clothes in silence. My phone w

on still clawe

even find wh