Caged Between The Beta Alpha

Walking alone in the vast night, accompanied by the stars, Emily savored the quiet of the evening. Strolling down Maple Street, the cold wind stung her eyes, forcing her to slow her pace. The air constricted her breathing, choking her throat. Fear? No, she hardly knew what fear was anymore. She couldnt discern the direction ahead, her gaze vacant, moving forward like a zombie, oblivious to the honking and curses on the road. People were screaming, and the wail of an ambulance pierced the air. A crowd had gathered, their cries erupting above her head: "Who got into an accident? Am I dead?"

Her consciousness was a tangle, a cacophony of sounds filling her mind. She thought she saw someone waving at her, a familiar smile. The figure was beckoning her closer.

Time seemed to stand still, yet the Earth continued to spin. The night was long, the hidden glimmer of the stars embellishing the boundless reverie.

Time couldnt halt its steps, from the head of the bed to the foot, and from the foot back to the head, it was unclear how many beds it had traversed before waking the person lying there.

A slight twitch in her index finger sent a sting through her nerves. Her brows furrowed as she slowly opened her heavy eyelids. The light was too bright, and her half-open eyes closed again as she adjusted to the brightness. She squinted, taking in her surroundings. White dominated her vision, and the smell of disinfectant assaulted her senses. It seemed she had a knack for ending up in hospitals. Her body was immobilized, wrapped like a mummy, the feeling of helplessness was truly unpleasant.

Before she could examine the room further, the sound of a doorknob turning made her cringe. Someone was coming in. In a panic, she closed her eyes, not wanting to see anyone, those sympathetic looks repulsed her.

The door creaked open, and a tall, thin man with a tired face but no stubble entered. His complexion was off, but he walked silently to the bedside, saying nothing, just watching. If not for the ticking clock on the wall, one might think time had stopped.

Her heart raced as the familiar scent drew near. She wanted to know who it was. It felt like centuries had passed when, just as she thought he wouldnt make a move, the man suddenly grasped her hand. A hoarse voice filled her ears: "Are you stupid? Cant you look when you cross the street?" The familiar voice made her body stiffen. She gritted her teeth, controlling the urge to open her eyes, her body trembling. She didnt expect him to come.

He stayed for a moment, then quickly got up without any lingering attachment. Listening to the sound of the stool as he rose, the footsteps on the floor as he left, everything was so hurried, as if he had never been there. If not for the lingering warmth of his touch on her hand, she would have doubted it was a hallucination.

The person on the bed opened her eyes and smiled bitterly: "Samuel, do you hate being with me so much? Are you even stingy with a little company?"

She wanted to see him so much, but his hoarse voice robbed her of the courage to open her eyes. Now, she watched the path he had just taken, wanting to hold onto everything about him, even just a breath of his presence.

She smiled weakly, feeling so pathetic. She despised herself for her cowardice, hating the person she had become. But tears still slid down her temples and disappeared into her hair, coming and going in a hurry.

She closed her eyes, reminiscing about those precious moments, meeting, getting to know each other, falling in love. That gentle gaze, the familiar face, the handsome back, she was still the naive girl of yesteryears, and he was still the sunny boy of the past, her leaning on his side, laughing so happily, that summer, everything was still well.