I held my breath as a warm finger slowly traced an invisible line from my forehead, down my nose, and I winced as the blunt nail caught the tear in my lip.
'Give in.' A voice with the warmth of the finger that touched me echoed in my head. My arms - I can't feel them. Are they above my head, tied? Were they cut off? What time of day is it? How long have I been here?
I tried to catch a glimpse of my captor, but to no avail. I was drugged. Starved. The shadows fell over my eyes like blankets. I can't keep them open. Please open! Dizzily, I dry heave in attempt to rid myself of the nameless poison and the comfort of human contact.
'You need to die now.' The voice caressed, soothing like the waters of a gentle summer stream.
I wanted to. I imagined slipping away soundlessly to blend into the heavy darkness surrounding me. I wanted to be with my family... but most of all, I desperately wanted to be free: such a luxury only graced upon oneself when crossing over into the beyond.
And yet, all I can airly whisper in this moment is, "I... can't..."
I cannot die no matter how hard I will it.
Before my mind joined the darkness, I brought myself to swallow, gather up enough air, and speak words that sounded like a moaning hiss.
"Em...rys... wh...y?"