Monday, January 28, 2008

Stories from the Apocalypse - The Fourth Death

Sometimes I dance, spinning. Cradling a white dress and just turning endlessly in circles until the blood drains. Catch my feet awhile. Walk.

To Sleep

"Under normal conditions, humans cannot store much oxygen in the body. Apnea of more than approximately one minute's duration therefore leads to severe lack of oxygen in the blood circulation. Permanent brain damage can occur after as little as three minutes and death will inevitably ensue after a few more minutes unless ventilation is restored."

They come to me, from time to time - in the dark. Not for a while now, but one day they will come. Again. I lie paralysed in bed, and the door opens. There is no way to avert the gaze as they look at me.

A girl in a white dress, an Army Captain, a thinly veiled beating heart. They line up beside my bed and gaze down. Calling. I want to cry out, but no words come. Just endless terrored coldness freezing me to the spot as they reach out .... they're touching me!!! They're touching me!!!!!!!!

It comes from deep within, this hollow death-bed screech and now I feel the dig in my ribs and I can move and breathe and where are they? Where have they gone? I leap to my feet, heart pounding and sucking deep on this liveless oxygen. She leaves ... spinning. And my heart beats time.

4 comments:

samsarajade said...

You are indeed a master writer.

electrofried (mr) said...

... as you are a master vlogger!

Anonymous said...

Dearest Electrofried,

Its just a dream. Can I suggest leaving the pickled onions alone at bedtime. Horlicks, on it's own, should be sufficient for one of your advanced age.

Yours, as always,

Panama, Esq.

PS How nice to hear from your patroness.

electrofried (mr) said...

Dear Panama,

life is but a dream, as I recollect from some distant nursery rhyme!

best regards,

electrofried (mr)