A Darkness Unconquerable

The room was not large, and the softly beeping machines seemed to dominate it in ways that were all wrong. I fought against the drugs, knowing it would be the same old memories again, but it was useless. Just like all the struggles that had gone before.

"Is there someone I can call?"

I opened my mouth to reply instinctively, but no answer came. The familiar empty pit opened in my stomach. Not quite pain. Not quite terror. Not quite despair. Not quite regret.

"No-one at all? Family? A close friend?"

The tears welled up and rolled down. The nurse took her cue.

It seemed right, somehow. Alone in life, alone in death. I clamped down on my emotions, did my best to ignore the old familiar voice that whispered its truths in my ear.

So what if this was the worst-case scenario I had always dreaded? There was nothing that could be done about it now.

I could feel all my pain drawing to a close. To a peace unassailable.

All right, then.