when darkness turns to light : : ANYA

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"What are you doing, Uly?"

"Hiding."

"From what? From who?"

"The world. The Sniper. You don't get it, ma. I was so scared he was gonna hurt that girl. And then he hurt me."

"I know, sweetie. But you can't stay in here forever. You have to come out. You have visitors....Do you hear me? Are you awake?"

One eye opened. A wave of sharp, harsh light invaded the world he had been safely living in during his subconsciousness. The seventeen year old put a hand up to shield his face. "Too bright," he muttered. Where was he? How long had he been out? The last thing he could remember was something sharp going in his neck. He fell to the floor in the gym, and looked up at a face, a sweet, smiling face, before sinking into a deep sleep, oblivious to the world around him. He never knew that he had gone into cardiac arrest twice. He never knew that his parents had stood amongst a sea of adults, waiting anxiously to hear what had happened to their son. He never knew that he was labeled John Doe 15 for a few hours, until Ms. Aden had identified him and his parents were told where he was. He never knew the anguish they went through, sitting by the bed and waiting to see if he would make it as the doctors administered blood transfusions. He never knew any of that. All he knew was the subconscious world that he was living in while he slept. It was warm, familiar, and happy. And now, in a flash of light, it was gone.

His eyes scanned the room. He had an IV hooked up to his arm, and an electrocardiogram hooked up to his chest, along with an ace bandage wrapped around his neck like a collar. Someone had been by to visit--there was a vase with some flowers. A picture of his mom, sisters, and brother rested beside the flowers. Uly smiled and picked it up. His fingers brushed against the frame. Honestly, it meant a lot that they had been here, even if he hadn't been awake for it. The tv hanging on the wall was on a judge show, and turned down really low. Reaching for the remote, he started to channel surf, when he saw the door open. Quickly, he shut the tv off and straightened up the blanket, looking to the door expectantly.