All of the sudden, I was conscious.
I felt the light on my skin before it penetrated my eyelids.
It felt wrong, unnatural, unwanted.
I can't remember dreaming, or even falling asleep.
Then, one by one, in a blurry procession, the night's horrors danced in front of my eyes.
They came in to focus as the sleep fogging my lenses cleared away.
Devastating words, invisible blows, open wounds dripping with despair.
I remember it all, and the pain sets in, my skin crawls, my insides twist and churn,
my heart....

                    my heart...
                    it...
I reach for my chest, hands shaking.
And as my hand passes through the gaping hole over my left breast,
I feel the rest of my body go numb; I don't feel a thing.
But I can feel the hole, the bright light of day illuminates it, making me open to the world.
I grip the sheets, pulling them over my head to create a faux cavern.
I am a cave dweller, and the darkness fills my void.