Over the span of 4 years, his well-built body was dissolved into a near skeleton. A spinal injury paralyzed him below the neck and robbed him of his dignity.
"I want this to be over. I don't want to live like this".
With eyes still closed he made a silent cry, grinding teeth.
"Do you need anything Mr. Collins?"
The sweet voice of the nurse interrupted his prayers. Relieved, he opened his eyes and with a weak smile, Collins shook his head for a "NO" and the nurse left the room.
Though he still can hear the nurses chatting outside the room, he was all alone in the grim room once again.
"How was your day Nurse Nerissa?"
"Ah… not very good. For the third time today, the vegetable soiled his diapers."
"Girl… I sure know how it feels taking care of a paralyzed person. I am glad to be stationed at the nursery."
"Well… I know. Lucky you. At times, it's so annoying that I leave his diapers for hours without changing it. He won't feel it anyway."
"Eww… Nerissa that's nasty."
"I know, but who cares?.. He is a vegetable after all with no immediate family.... As if he can sue me…"
The conversation preceded with the sound of laughter.
Though he was not supposed to feel anything, he felt this immense pressure over his chest, this unexplained pain in his heart. Tears almost soaked his pillow and he knew no one would care. That night he prayed, he prayed to either die before the sunrise or see the sunrise on his feet. Crying and cursing all the Gods he knew Collins succumbed to slumber.
The next morning Collins woke up with a terrible headache. He squeezed his head with both of his hands as it continued to pound. Something odd had happened, he woke up with his paralysis washed away. Instead of the paralysis, he now has a chronic headache. A constant throbbing like someone is pounding the inside of his head with a hammer. Doctors were puzzled with no explanation, and he was discharged from the hospital.
For the next few days Collins was denied to even come out of his room. As the days passed, he tried to remember what happened that night after he slept. Unable to concentrate he grew frustrated, and the frustration took the shape of rage and rage into one of those fits where you turn into an animal.
In one of those fits he remembered that he chose this pain himself. He was offered a choice. To either live rest of his life paralyzed or to have incredible pain but a moving body. He chose pain, after all he felt nothing all these years. At least pain will remind him of being alive.
Alive......... Yes........ Alive He is.
Muttering and Mumbling Collins stepped out of his house after days still with a throbbing head. It was dark outside, and aimlessly he walked on a road grunting and mumbling occasionally "Alive...... Feel The Pain........ Feel Alive."
At the end of one of the lanes, a familiar face appeared. It was the beautiful nurse with the sweet voice.
"Mr. Collins. Em… How are you? You look terrible. Are you alright?"
Saying this, she stepped forward towards him.
Out of nowhere, he grabbed her arm and punched her elbow in the other direction. With a scream she fell on the ground with a dislocated and probably a broken elbow.
"Remember this,pain is a proof you are alive" Said Collins before disappearing in the darkness.
Thanks for reading... Until my next post, stay safe and remain blessed.