Paralysis.

It was warm. I opened my eyes. Comforted by the embrace of my blanket. I could see my hands crossed, resting on my stomach. I lifted my arm slowly, fatigued. It felt as though it had been lifted.. yet the image of my hands crossed remained. I tried again. I pulled both of my hands away and lifted them yet all I could see was that one image, my fingers intertwined. I sensed my parents' presence in the room and I opened my mouth to call out. I called over and over again 'Mum.. Dad.. Dad.. Mum?' But to no avail. My voice was muted. No matter how hard I tried, I could muster no sound.

Again I tried to lift myself up. I could feel myself rising yet my body remained lying down. I stopped, scared that somehow I would leave my body behind entirely. I was trapped. Unable to speak, unable to rise. It began to feel increasingly hot to the point of discomfort, and there I was - paralysed.