Broken Within

In a gentle, soothing manner, she experienced a weightless sensation, as if floating on a cloud. With her eyes closed, she basked in a luxurious softness reminiscent of her grandmother's cherished satin duvet. Initially, she assumed she must be dreaming, noticing the pleasant heaviness in her limbs – a familiar sensation after a long day at the bustling market. Gradually, her thoughts began to wander, uncontrollably surfacing memories. Abubakar's presence intruded, and she yearned to share this with Maama, but the words remained unspoken. The image of Maama lingered, drawing her closer to wakefulness. As her consciousness started to regain, she struggled to open her eyes, discovering they were stuck together by something sticky and tight. Realizing she was indeed asleep, she recalled the surreal paralysis she'd experienced before, trapped in the depths of her dreams, evading unseen threats and feeling her limbs turn to stone. Fear gripped her heart, its thunderous beats echoing in her chest like a warning. Her panicked hand reached for her mouth, only to find the tube that connected her. "Yaa Rahman!" she realized, her voice barely a whisper – she was in a hospital. The realization sent her heart racing, and she desperately yanked the tube from her throat, coughing and choking as it freed her. Finally, with a fierce release, she hurled the tube away, her emotions overwhelming her in that moment.