Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked down Daniel’s back as he read the printout. “History of… severe burns… affecting 60% of body surface area.” His own name stared back at him. He ran a hand through his hair, the action somehow grounding him. Burns? He was as pale and unblemished as a sheet of paper. He had never suffered so much as a blister.

He reread the section listing his medications, a cocktail of painkillers and burn creams. He didn’t recognize a single one. This couldn't be right. His heart rate thumped against his ribs, a frantic, irregular rhythm. It was a cold, sharp feeling, like he’d swallowed a block of ice.

He looked around the sterile waiting room. The fluorescent lights seemed to hum, a discordant tune. He felt disoriented, adrift in a sea of medical jargon and inaccurate information.