Invisible

RUDE AWAKENING

AIDEN WOKE ME UP at least four times, my eyes still drifting at five in the morning.  He’d ask me stupid questions – what’s my name, where was I born… That sort of thing, But after that, Aiden never woke me up again. He fell asleep next to me, his arm wrapped tightly around me as I drifted through dreamland…

But as always, dreamland turns into a nightmare.

His body was pressing onto me, so heavily I could barely breathe. I tried to scream but he covered my mouth, and somehow my lungs refused to work.

“Get off!” I managed to yell. He pulled his hand away from my mouth, shoved his mouth to mine. I kept screaming, his fist crashing into my sides, my stomach, my chest, my head. Only then, I gave up. Only then, I really couldn’t breathe. Only then, I couldn’t fight back. I knew it was over, could barely see what he was doing. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t feel everything.

And then he was inside of me, and everything turned…

I jolt awake, see Aiden right in front of me. I start panting as I try to figure out what’s going on, why his arm is around me.

Hospital…

I hit my head…

Which explains the massive headache…

I start breathing normally again, watching Aiden as he sleeps. He opens his eyes after a while, stares at me.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, “Headache?”

“Yeah…” I hesitate, “What time is it?”

He looks at his watch. “Ten.” Then he sits up. “I should probably take you home.”

“No,” I respond, the thought of having Jeremy around making me nauseous, “you should probably get some sleep before you drive me.”

“No, I’m fine… I got enough sleep last night.”

I sulk as I try to stand up, my legs slightly uncoordinated.

“You sure nothing else is wrong?” he asks as he stands up, holds his arms out in case I fall. I shake my head.

“No,” I say unenthusiastically, “I’m fine.”

<><><>

Jeremy wasn’t home when Aiden took me, so he offered to wait. We’re sitting in the living room, television on. We’re barely watching it, his eyes focused on me as I stare at the floor.

“Are you sure you’re—”

“Yes, Aiden,” I say, “I’m fine. I’m just not in the mood to watch anything.”

Then the television goes mute. I look up, see the blank screen, our reflections clear. His hand moves toward my face, pushes my hair back.

“Then what do you feel like doing?”

“Sleeping again.”

“That’s… not good…”

“Why not?”

“It’s a sign that your concussion’s getting worse.” He stands up, “Do you have any Tylenol here?”

“In the kitchen, the cabinet next to the door.”

He disappears around the corner, silence overtaking the room. I lie back, close my eyes. Within a few seconds, the front door busts open, Anna’s laughter breaking the silence.

“Oh my God!” she yells loudly, “That movie was so funny!”

My ears ring rapidly as I open my eyes, scream.