Turning Into Dust

I could see it – my life. It was falling, breaking, shattering and blowing into the wind. It fell with the sight of him, crumbled and limp, a bowl of chips lying in pieces not to far away. There was no warning, there was no blood, just an emptiness radiating outward, freezing my limbs and forcing my eyes into moons. My veins froze and the silence sent my ears ringing.

That was all I could see. The body, the chips, the plaster as it laid scattered across empty space. There was no such thing as a floor anymore – I was standing on absolutely nothing, merely floating in the air above an abyss of oblivion.

And even as I floated, everything seemed to fade. The cold, the puzzlement. They all disappeared, being replaced with something more powerful. No longer was I thinking about the chips, or why he was on the floor instead of coming over to the living room with me. No. Nothing of the kind crossed my mind. Just fear. Fear had slammed into me with the force of a train, crushing my lungs, knocking my mind into paralysis.

Then it all disappeared. The weight was gone and in place was an energy I had never felt before.

My knees feel in on themselves and I crawled over, pulling him up and giving him a light shake. There was no response, nothing to tell me that he was okay. Not a twitch, not groan. He remained still, remained quiet. I put my head on his chest, waiting for a sound to strike my ears. Waiting for an intake of breath.

He'll be okay... He'll be okay.

I just know he will.

Everything will be fine – my life isn't a dust that vanishes with even the slightest wind.

I forced my legs under me once more, not able to contain them anymore. Tears dripped down my cheeks and stung my eyes.

The Phone. Where's the phone?

Where's the freaking phone!?

My fingers trembled as I grabbed the small, sleek surface of the object that would save his life. I flipped it open, being met with a black screen. I never remembered turning it off.

It was... dead.

Dead.

Dead.

Just like-

Just-

I sobbed, crawling back over to him.

“Wake up! Wake up! Please, you idiot. Wake up. Wake up... Wake... up.”

Just like him.