Song: Aftershocks

Show: Next to Normal

Context: A ghost boy has been expelled from his mother's life by ECT or electro convulsive therapy.

What's the song?: The dialogue in Linka's head.

Good song?: It's nice. It doesn't make a ton of sense out of context though…

A/N: Eh I like this one…

"They've managed to get rid of me I'm gone without a trace."

The bliss. Withdrawal. Boris? I – I do not understand what is going on. Where am I? Who was talking?

"ECT, electric chair, we shock who we can't save."

Pain.

Shock? I was shocked? What has happened to me!?

I think I'm crying now but I do not know for sure.

"They've cleared you of my memory and many more as well."

Bliss.

I cannot remember. Who is talking!? Voices' screeched around in a taunting song. Who are they? Why will they not go? Another voice is lost in the flurry of insults. I cannot place it. I cannot do anything.

"You may have wanted some of them but who can ever tell?"

Wheeler.

A hand is stroking my cheek but I do not know. I do not know anything. Names and faces fly by my vision so fast I cannot focus. I cringe and twitch and do not know why.

"Your brain waves are more regular the chemistry more pure."

Too polluted.

Splitting pain is evident in every joint. It is as if every bone was broken. What did I do wrong?

"The headaches and nausea will pass endure."

Boris.

I feel – I feel like I will never see him again. Why can I not feel!? Why can I not know!? I scream but I do not hear anything.

"Your Cousin's gone forever though of that the doctor's sure."

Gone.

No, no, no, NO! I'm beginning... I can – can see what has happened. Those words I heard before now come in a coherent order. Wheeler shouts of warning and his comforting embrace. The pills that consumed me and made my shoes feel like led and my head feel like air.

"They managed to get rid of me I'm gone without a trace, burn the soul and leave a scar no treatment can erase."

Addiction.

I'm being treated for withdrawal from the Bliss. I am angry, and sad, and betrayed. I am annoyed, and I am hurt yet all I feel is pain. Pain in the purest sense of the word. And I am crying. I know Wheeler is grabbing my hand. I muster the strength to squeeze back.

"They cut away to cancer but forgot to fill the hole."

I... I think Wheeler can fill that hole. I think I hear his voice exclaiming that I squeezed his hand back.

"They've removed me from your memory but I'm still there in your soul."

Skumm

It's clearly the voice of the Skumm. I can tell now. I have not been cleared of his memory. I muster the strength to moan quietly.

"Life is back to normal now or so they all believe."

I will never be normal, that's way too far away, but somewhere next to normal... As normal as fighting alongside spirits and using rings with magical powers can be, that, would be okay.

"Your heart is in your chest again not hanging from your sleeve."

I will be more open with my emotions. I will tell you how I feel. I have to wake up. I promised Wheeler.

"They've driven out the demons"

The bliss.

"And they've earned you this reprieve."

I'm going force my eyes open. I brace myself for the headache is most likely accompanied by light.

"The memories are gone,"

I do not remember now but I'm sure it will come back later.

"The aftershocks live on."

I opened my eyes to see warm and comforting freckles. The huge smile came over his face and he exclaimed, presumably to the others,

"She's awake!"

I sat up slightly to kiss him.

"I love you, moy plamth be temyhote"

"what?"

"My flame in the darkness."