Narcolepsy

It's almost beautiful. All those spiralling little dots fading in and out from blurred irises, as though caught in a nocturnal dance. Truly a spectacle with whirring sounds as accompaniment. Despite their alluring assembly, they meant something alarming.

Sally was fainting.

In few more seconds her sense would cease and her friend's cold clutches will envelope her into oblivion as the world, along the dancing dots, disappear.

Morbidly, she welcomes these intervals. It's her means of escape. The rapid painful beating of her heart doesn't bother her when she's in the arms of her cold friend. The troubles that plague her seem nothing more than those iridescent little dots. Gone for a moment, just enough to flee for a moment, but never lasting more than a day.

Sally wakes the following day. A warm hand clasping hers replaces the cold embrace and for a moment, her heart sputters.

I need to remember to breathe.

Her thoughts rang loudly as she draws breath to her starving chest. Idly, she studies her beloved brother clutching onto her hand as though he were a lifeline, or perhaps she was his. She could spy the dark circles adorning his somber eyes and thin lips and quietly buries her guilt.

This was why she kept waking, why her cold friend's embrace should remain fleeting.

She fights for him that most. Never mind herself, his needs came first.

Breathe, Sal. For Cody.

Quietly, she slips away and covers him with her blanket. She flexes her fingers, then her arms and slowly her feet pick up strength from the warming wood floor.

She makes tea and toast, his favorite.

Cody rises from his unintended nap to find his hand firmly clasping his sister's. A relieved sigh escapes his dry lips. Stretching his still narrow frame, a scent wafted to his nostrils, making his mouth water.

The tea was cooling and the butter on the toast had borrowed deep into the hardened bread. By his estimate, it's been a good amount of time since it sat there. A silent sentinel.

"I was hoping you would wake me this time." His smile was bittersweet. "Next time, please, please, wake me next time."

Solemnly, he finished off the plate of toasts and the whole mug of cold tea. Warily, he stood and gave a final wan smile.

"I'll do my best today, as I always do. Hurry and wake up again. I promise I won't argue or fight. Let's share a meal."

With a deep breath, he left just as Sally's eyes flutters.