John stayed by my side throughout the entire night.
Occasionally, I registered the sound of another voice, the sighing of breath, the broken half-snores of a man who is doing his best to remain alert despite exhaustion. But I was unable to concentrate on such things in my wonderful distraction; the sound of my own breathing was utterly fascinating to me, the presto, 6/8 rhythm of my heart held me in rapture for what seemed to be hours. The only thoughts running through my mind were echoing murmurs of complete awe at this dark, entrancing world of peace which had wormed its way into my mind, placing cool fingers on my brain cells, feeling them shuddering with pleasure.
Crickets chirped from somewhere; I could not know if their raspy chords came from an open window or from my deadened, left inner-elbow. Their melodic chirps mingled with the sounds of my shallow breath, harmony, complex melodies, an entire orchestra... playing slow, gold-leaf-plated waltz. Onetwothreeonetwothree...
I laughed.
The echoes rebounded off the darkness loudly. Maniacal cackling. Oh. I was frightening John again. His hand was on my forehead, eyes blinking blearily, concernedly, caringly at me. I could have gazed at them for hours, at their darkly cyan depths like deep ocean water, or sapphires on a black background, or the sky when the sun has just set...
Darkness. How simply beautiful it is. Darkness is absence of light, darkness is nothing, darkness is perfect. My mind was dark right now. I longed for it to stay this way forever.
Had the elation of the drug actually lasted forever, I could never have tired of simply lying there, quiet and warm, listening to my own heartbeat in wonder. However, soon the effects began to slowly wear off and I could feel myself being pulled out of my trace reluctantly. My limbs were growing heavier, my muscles weakening, my lungs filling with sticky, greenish fluid which I knew all too well would wrack my overtired body with hacking coughs in the morning. I was nearing myself again and I despised the close proximity.
A sudden snore from my right made me start and sit bolt upright, staring around wildly. John was sitting in the corner, his head against the wall, his mouth hanging open as he slept.
He'd stayed with me. He'd given up a night of sleep to ensure that I was alright. He hadn't deserted me, he hadn't left me in the armchair by the fire all night, he hadn't laughed at me or simply scoffed and said I was insane... He'd stayed with me. He'd stayed with me. He'd stayed with me.
"John?" I said sharply, my voice slightly hoarser than usual. He stirred, blinking at me and lifting his head.
"You doing alright?" he asked wearily, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
I nodded, casting my gaze downward, pondering. "I'm just perfect."