The Experience

The darkness is devouring me. It’s cold all around and haunts me. What once was fear has become a comforting embrace. I can hear voices in the distance. They’re familiar, but I can’t recognize them. All sounds are muted in this void that I find myself floating in. Old friends fade into existence and smile at me.

They reach their hands out to me. A light explodes and beckons to me in the distance. The light bathes me in its warmth. I don’t know where I am, I don’t know how I got here, but I don’t think I belong here.

The muted voices become clear. And the light is now much harsher. A jolt runs through my body. I anticipate an impact, but I don’t know from where it’s coming from.

“Clear!” the doctor yelled. The cold paddles pierce me with sudden heat. Beeps are now more prominent.

“He’s back,” one of the nurses said, “You gave us quite a scare. Don’t worry, you’re neighbor pulled you out of the pool just in time. You’re very lucky.”

I nodded to the nurse, exhausted, and tried to smile. I don’t know if a smile is what shown on my face. Air is drawn into the lungs like a million needles both painful and welcome. They wheel me away to another room. And I see my family in the distance.

“He’s had a very harrowing experience,” I hear the doctor say to them. I couldn’t disagree more. I tried to smile again as I let my heavy eyelids shut and I went to sleep.