Switched Wish | Lara Decastecker

Slow like the setting sun, warm tears started their marathon from the insides of her eyes, curving around her nose and then teasing her lips, staining the previous pale pink. Her usual blushed cheeks were transparent, a perfect canvas for the dark crimson blood that coated them. Heavy sighs began to make their appearance, as if they were small soldiers marching to war. She clouded her own thoughts, attempting to forget what triggered this episode. All it took was an emotion. Disgust, joy, and fear always had the same result. No emotion was to be present on her face or in her heart. That was the price. Carefully she picked up a pill, her frail fingers fumbling with it for a moment. It’s bright fluorescent blue blinded her already drowned eyes as she let it slip into her mouth. When one sleeps, worries cease. When one forgets, pain fades. When one dreams, reality is seen. She stood in front of an occupied hospital bed in the same empty room as before. The crouched flowers and pearl white couches always made their appearance. She felt raspy words scratch at her throat, her body acting without her control as she ran to lay on her hibernating mother. “Mama, I would give anything for you to stay,” she blinked away salty tears, the taste pungent to her. Doctors which were surrounding them lost their importance to her, as if they weren’t there. She felt like liquid. “Absolutely anything, Mama! It’s your last chance!” She cried out, her nails acting as claws to whoever came near them. For the first time in ten years, she got a response. The coma which robbed a fourth of her mother’s life was lifted. The small teen fell to the ground, utter shock causing her to lose her balance and fall to her knees. Her hands then flew to her face, wiping away her half dry tears. “Thank you, thank you, tha--.” Her vision became blurry as everything went red. It’s as if a gigantic candle was lit in front of her and she was burning up, only it was just in her eyes. Heavy drops began to fall to the floor, red smearing as she moved. Then, crimson was engulfed by pitch black as her senses went quiet. When one sleeps, worries cease. When one forgets, pain fades. When one dreams, reality is seen. When one pleads, wishes are seen. When one pays, emotion fades. When one sleeps, the curse is ceased for the time being, only to be awakened during the rising sun.