A crackle of static emerged from the glossy wood paneled radio: "Rise and shine citizen! It's another splendid day in Paradisum. The forecasts call for clear skies and warm temperatures. The time right now is seven o'clock." Winston practically sprang out of the lime green sheets. He landed smoothly into a pair of exceptionally blue slippers, and strolled out of the equally garishly colored bedroom into the bathroom. As he paused in between rinsing out his mouth with water, he spoke loudly, enunciating clearly.
"News" The speaker sitting on top of the medicine cabinet obliged with a crackle of static, and the jovial voice of a radio show host delivered the morning news.
"A recent study done by our journalists venturing outside Paradisum has found that this will be the sixth year in a row without any Grimm attacks" Winston smiled at this. He moved into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. The speaker continued: "Quality of life is at an all time high, and a compilation of surveys done all around Remnant have indicated that citizens of Paradisum are the happiest in the world. That will be all for this morning's news. Have a wonderful rest of your day."
Winston bit into his toast, washing it down with a gulp of dark coffee. He licked the remaining jam off of his fingers and delicately dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. Satisfied, he placed his plate and beloved mug into the sink before plucking a weathered and cracked briefcase from off of the table. He slipped on his favorite pair of leather shoes, straightened his tie one last time, and headed out. Three minutes later, his door slammed open as he headed back in and snatched up a pair of black rimmed glasses from the table, having almost forgotten them.
Huffing from exertion, Winston raised his watch to his face, tie flapping in the wind.
7:50. I can make it! He thought to himself. Just one more block to the bus stop. I really ought to find a way to remind myself of these things.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he failed to notice the truck barreling down the road towards him as he rushed across the street.
~x~
Winston's eyelids groggily flickered open the tiniest amount. His mouth felt like it was full of searing hot marshmallows. His torso was riddled with sharp pains, and every time he breathed it was like inhaling shards of glass. Looking through the slits of his puffed up eyelids, he caught flashes of rows of lights. He had the sensation of moving rapidly. People in green scrubs and face masks surrounded him, a bag of clear liquid seemed to be attached to his arm, everything smelled like antiseptic and rubber. Winston drifted back into unconsciousness.
For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Winston frowned as he looked around at his new surroundings. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. He suddenly realized that he was flying perhaps several thousand feet in the air. Clouds were scattered below him. Rather than feel panic, however, Winston felt a sense of serene calmness. Infinite and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee. He blinked.
What do these words mean? He pondered this as the words had simply came to him. He thought about them for a while longer before he felt himself descending. The ground came up to meet him, moving faster and faster as he saw a city. He saw the outline of the hospital grow larger and larger. Suddenly, he was hovering over the battered body of a man in a hospital bed, the steady beeps of an EKG filling the room. It was him.
Nonono I don't want to be him, he thought. I don't want this he pleaded silently. As he felt himself being dragged into the body on the bed, pain filled his senses once more, and he drifted into a long, dreamless sleep.