TWELVE

Darkness.

That's all I see around me. But why? My eyes are opened, I'm sure of it.
But why can't I see anything.

Am I blind?

No, it can't be. I can still vaguely see my hands, my arms, my limb, my legs.

But there's nothing around me. Only darkness.

Where am I?

I snap my fingers, but no light flashes. I slowly raise my hands, but darkness prevails.

I start walking in pitch black.
Not knowing where to go.
Not knowing where I am.

I wish I would hit something as I walk. But there's nothing.

My heart starts racing as my eyes dart everywhere, only to find darkness.

What is this? Where am I?

I feel darkness creeping up my body, engulfing every fiber of my body.

I feel choked. Choked by this darkness. Airs taken out of my lungs.

I fall on my knees, feeling tears escaping my eyes.

It's too much. Just too much of darkness. Too much of this feeling of loneliness. Of desolation.

But then I hear your voice calling for my name. I lift my head searching for you, but the same sickening darkness greets me. I try to shout your name, but only echoes of my voice answer me.

You call me again, and a tiny light appears floating near me.

Your voice echoes, and the light grows bigger, but floating away from me.

I stand up on my feet and chase after the light as I hear your voice calling for my name, now turning into sobs.

No. Don't cry.
Why are you crying, love?

My heart can't bear hearing you cry. I pick up my pace chasing after the light. I want to hold you in my arms and wipe away the tears.

Then your voice tells me to wake up as the light floats farther away. You tell me the same thing again with a tinge of anger in your voice that I almost trip on my own foot.

Wake up? But I'm already awake.

Angrily, you keep on telling me to wake up.

Puzzled I am indeed. But my feet keep on running.

Suddenly your voice, your sobs, your anger come to a halt. I stop, trying to catch my breath.

Only now do I realize that everything around me has lit up.

Pitch black has been replaced by pure white. Darkness by light.

Everything around me is white. Blinding white. But nothing is in sight.

Empty space.
Bright empty space.

But the light of your voice strangely still glows against the white surrounding, floating in its spot far far away from me.

The sound of your sob echoes again. I look around still stupidly hoping you are somewhere near.

"Please don't leave me."

I won't. I'm here. I'm here.

I wiped the sweat trickling down the side of my face and start taking a step again.

I chase after the glowing light of your voice. It feels harder for me to breathe with every step I take, but I'm not going to stop.

"Don't leave me. I... Love you."

Don't worry. I won't.

I won't.