Embrace.

“Hold tightly to what you love,” I can hear them saying, their words echoing in my mind as I navigate through the small, cold, and dark world around me. The rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall fills the silence, a constant reminder of time passing by. A tear escapes my eye, tracing a path down my cheek, but before it falls, a gentle comforting hand reaches out and wipes it away. The warmth and pressure of that touch soothes me, even in the midst of surrounding chaos.

Gently, the loudness of voices and beeping machines seeps into my consciousness, but the darkness persists. I yearn to open my eyes, to make sense of my surroundings, but my mind struggles to process the concept of movement. It's as if I'm caught in a surreal limbo, suspended between awareness and oblivion.

And then, like a lifeline thrown to a drowning soul, I drift off into a different realm. I find myself snuggled in the embrace of a soft, fluffy, stuffed bunny. Its long brown ears with a delicate pink center, dangle loosely as I hold it close. The bunny's chest proudly displays a heart, sewn with care and love. In this simple moment, I discover solace. The act of holding onto something warm, delicate, and personal brings a tender embrace to my fragile heart. 

In my mind's eye, I transport myself to a time long ago - my grade school years. I'm sitting on a circular mat with my fellow classmates, all of us cradling our cherished stuffed animals on our laps. It was a special time, one that I hold dearly to my heart. The shared experience of storytime, surrounded by the comfort of our beloved companions, created an unbreakable bond among us.

As the beeping of the machine brings me back to consciousness, my eyes flutter open, greeted by a room filled with concerned faces. Their stares indicate the gravity of the situation. “Must be a serious concussion,” one of them states, their words reaching my ears with a mix of clarity and confusion. It dawns on me that something significant has happened, but the details elude me. The room feels strangely familiar, triggering a vague sense of deja vu. I recognize the stiff bed beneath me, the rails on the side, and the footboard, all too well. And that distinctive smell - stale, old, and airless - floods my senses, evoking memories I struggle to grasp. 

Questions swirl in my mind, but they are silenced by a gentle hand holding mine. Although I am unable to process the connection, mentally I embrace it, allowing it to reach the depths of my core. Love. All around me, I feel an overpowering sense of love emanating from those gathered by my side. In this moment of vulnerability, their presence provides solace, a reassuring balm to the uncertainties that surround me. At least in this state of surrender, I surrender to a somber rest, knowing that love will guide me through whatever lies ahead.