It's not like waking up from a nightmare.
'Cause when you wake up
The nightmare ends.
This is much different.
It's like waking up into a nightmare.
This ones real.
This one won't go away no matter how hard you pinch yourself.
Even though it doesn't seem safe while you're dreaming
You're actually quite safe there.
But this.
It's too real.
There's nothing safe about it.
There are risks around each corner.
Unpredictable things.
You wake up into hell.
A place you never wanted to see.
Yet it's there right in front of you.
Staring you in the face.
All you see are the million machines beeping.
Keeping you alive.
Then you feel the tube down your throat.
Feeding you icky mush.
You panic and freak out because you don't know what’s going on.
Your arms and legs are secure and you can't move.
A tear escapes and runs down your cheek.
No one you know to help you.
Just the stranger with the face mask on.
Blurry voices say "Shh. It's okay. Try and relax."
You fall back asleep to forget what just happened.
Ten minutes later you awake again to the startling sight of machines hooked up to you.
Once again you can't move.
The voice repeats itself and you go back to sleep.
Every few minutes you wake up to the same nightmare.
This reoccurring nightmare that is a surprise each time.
And all you wish for is to end it.
But you keep waking up.