Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the hospital waiting room swam before Elias’s eyes. He gripped the worn fabric of his jeans, knuckles white. Across from him, a woman with vibrant purple hair tapped a staccato rhythm on her knee. “So… you get the… the episodes too?” she asked, her voice hushed.

Elias simply nodded. His throat felt constricted. He’d spent his life feeling like a freak, the only one who endured the sudden, debilitating paralysis. Now, here was someone who understood. He could barely find the words to respond. He swallowed hard. “And… the dreams?” he managed to croak out.

Her purple eyes widened. She leaned forward, her movements sharp. “The crimson landscapes? The feeling of… of drowning in sound?” A small smile flickered across her face. He felt a wave of relief flood through him, a feeling he hadn’t known he was capable of. A genuine, unguarded smile broke across his own face.