But you won't be there

Maybe it'll end someday. Logan thought, staring at the ceiling of the hospital. The machines beeped next to him with annoying monotonousness, as if they could play only one rhythm indefinitely. Maybe they did. It may never end.

Logan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The smell of freshly washed sheets slightly irritated his nose, but somehow it was good to soak deep into the characteristic aroma of the hospital laundry detergent. The sun was strebling pleasantly on his pale face, almost rubbing it in his face that he was, in fact, still alive. He was still alive, breathing and feeling, oh, but how much he felt. It was like all the pain weighted on him at the same time. Physically, he was doing well, but it was harder mentally.He was alive, and it hurt. It was as if with every breath, every heartbeat, a needle was being inserted into his lungs. Just end it once. Logan kept repeating it, and before he knew it, he was already saying those words out loud.

"What should end?" asked a voice not far from him.

„Everything" the boy said, keeping his eyes closed. He didn't know who asked the question, but he didn't care either.

"Open your eyes, Logan." said the voice, now closer.

„I don't want to." The sound became more familiar, as if he'd heard it somewhere.

„Speak again," encouraged Logan the voice's owner.

„You've changed Logan." the voice was right next to him. Logan couldn't stand it, he opened his eyes. At first he couldn't see anything, everything was so bright. Then a figure emerged in front of him.

„Danny" the name ran out of his mouth before he could even think about what it meant. The freckled face, the deep brown pair of eyes, the pointy nose, and the disheveled hair. It was him. Danny.

„What are you doing here?" Logan asked, confused.

„No, what are YOU doing here? You shouldn't be here yet," Danny frowned.

„I just—„

„Open your eyes" Danny commanded.

„But they're open..."

„Open your eyes."

Logan didn't understand what was happening.

„Danny, I—"

„ Wake up!" exclaimed Danny, now angrily.

„What...? Is this just a dream?" blinked Logan.

„Open your eyes."

„But you won't be there."

„Open them!"

„Danny..."

„Come on. Open them!" shook Danny Logan's shoulders, and the boy sat up in bed gasping for air.

His eyes popped open, and suddenly he wasn't feeling only mental pain. His neck and wrists were terribly sore, his body felt numb. He was awake.

***

"Doctor, how long do I have to stay in here?" Logan asked the man sitting by his bed.

"If all goes well, you can go home tomorrow."

"But nothing hurts anymore."

"You were in a coma for three days, Logan. Whoever did this to you did a thorough job." the doctor turned to him remarkably. „Don't you want to say something?"

Logan picked his fingernails nervously.

„No, I have nothing to say. I don't want to file a complaint. The police couldn't find out who it was."

"That's true, but if you felt like you knew this person, would you tell me?"

„Fortunately, that's not the case." Logan smiled at the doctor. He felt a bit of pain in the side of his body and his head, but he decided to endure it silently. „Let me go home tonight. I have my first day of school tomorrow, I can't miss it."

The doctor sighed, shook his head, and left the room. Logan's face immediately twitched from the pain. Someday it will be over.

A few hours later he could go to the bathroom alone. He never liked to sit in one place, so he went around the hospital in the late afternoon. Luckily, he didn't have to expect any visitors, he could spend his time alone. His legs got tired soon, so his little tour didn't last more than half an hour. Lying in the room, he exercised a little to get in better shape for the next day. If he is released half past nine in the morning, he would be late, but he could attend school. He looked in the mirror and he couldn't help but feel sorrow. He wasn't in a very good shape. He washed his long black hair in the shower. He didn't really understand why, but something in him was still struggling desperately to try to live his normal teenage life. He didn't know the reason, but he still wanted to open a new chapter in his life, despite the failure of the last 4 times. This time, maybe everything will be fine.