As I'm drifting off, possibly for the last time in this strange world, I can faintly hear noise from afar. Are you crying…? Please don't, where I am is not a bad place, it's full of splendor and I've found someone to play with. That is until I become nothing but a cracked, lifeless doll and fade, to where? I don't know. Hopefully a place encased with flowers and sunshine, I miss that most.
My eyes are feeling heavy, my body is slowing. I can hear my pulse, it's so slow but it doesn't hurt.
I have missed you and I want to see you but don't search for me. Don't come after me. It was my choice, my decision to trade places with you. Why do you cry still? Are you doing what you've always wanted to? I'd once wondered this while I floated through the broken world of legend; did I make the right choice? I was scared for such a long time, there were so many terrifying things here and none of them played nice. But I had at least one thing to occupy my unknown time. When it was up would I be dead? The question had haunted me every second. Every breath I drew in was a grain falling within the hourglass of life.
I can still faintly hear the clock ticking away the lie that was time. Was it coming to an end now? Was this it?
The ceiling was blurring into a powdery blue and white. The feel of the sofa was beginning to fade now, leaving me detached and like I was floating. I couldn't move anymore, couldn't feel things around me. Was I breathing? I couldn't tell. Why was the world sideways? Had I fallen? Was I floating? I'm scared…What do I do?
What can I do?
There, a blurry figure coloured white is here, saying something, yelling and…Holding onto me? I can't tell, I'm weightless but it's so dark. There are no lights here. There's nothing to block me but them, their pitch black hands latching onto me. What do they want? Go away, you're bothering me.
One…
Two…
Three….
Sleep.
I can feel something. It's faint, like the flutter of butterfly wings or eyelashes against skin. So faint. Does it even exist?
Ma…o..te.
What was that, who was calling, why?
Mar..ne..e!"
Why can't you leave me alone? Who are you calling! Go away!
Mari..ne..te!
Why do you sound familiar? Wait…I know who you are…Why are you calling!
Marionette!
W-why? Is this a game? Why is big brother calling? Where is he?
I want to see him again but I know I can't. Not ever. So, please go away haunting shadow, leave me to fade or send me back to that place in this world you haunt.
Marionette!
Let me sink, sleep as I sink. I'm fading, slowly but, as this thickness pulls me back, perhaps this is real…Should it be?
There are lights now, a small one reaching…No, racing towards me. It wraps around me and it's a tug-a-war between the two. It hurts, it burns, it's too bright, it's so warm, this light. I can feel myself being tugged up and the thickness is gone but their hands still reach. I can hear someone I know scream in anguish and sorrow but their words are lost to my ears as I'm dragged to that light.
Briefly I saw him, he smiled at me but I couldn't move or protest, my eyes weren't even open but I could see him, somewhat, somehow. He waved and with a glance back to somewhere he jumped, dragging the hands away from me.
As he disappeared I began to sink into sleep but one emotion registered.
Sorrow.
