Graham woke up with a gasp, feeling sharp pain in his chest and cold sweat running down his back, his thoughts a chaotic swirl.
Fumbling through the bed he found his phone and saw that it was still midnight at 2:00 AM and watching through the window of his room, he saw the Starry Sky, ever-changing and eternal.
He just had a Nightmare. He wouldn't mind it much normally 'cause a sweet dream or a nightmare, both come and go in everyone's everyday life.
But he has been having this particular nightmare for as long as he could remember for the past 24 years of his life.
At first it was so rare that Graham couldn't care less about it, like once or twice a year. But the frequency has been steadily increasing as he grew up and now for the past 2 weeks it had became a daily occurance.
And no matter how hard he tries, aside from feeling as if his heart has been broken into countless pieces, Graham couldn't recall anything else...
So after getting his thoughts sorted, he just laid down on the bed trying to sleep.
After tossing and turing for who knows how long, he finally fell asleep.
***
The alarm suddenly started blaring in the silent room at 7 AM sharp because he has to be at the hospital for work at 8 AM.
Graham woke up with difficulty feeling as if having a hangover after drinking and partying all night long yesterday.
No he doesn't drink or goes to any parties whatever the occasion. So how is he so accurate in his discription of the pain you ask?
Well...
At his college graduation party, due to a bet with his friend, he drank one glass of beer (around 500 ml) in one breath (with low alcohol content) and that alone was enough to get him tipsy.
After that in his disoriented state one glass became two ,next two became four, and then he totally collapsed after the eighth glass of beer. Next day he woke up grabbing his head feeling as if someone kept pounding his head with a Hammer throughout the whole day.
That experience taught him two things. First, He has very low alcohol tolerance.
Second, He should never touch any alcohol for the rest of his life.
Back to the present,
Graham is a 24 years old young man.
His black hair as dark as the moonless night, with golden pupils that shine like the sun, he is quite handsome with an idol level look.
But to due his slim body and slightly unkempt hair that covers his eyes, others didn't pay him much notice.
He lost his father at an accident 2 years back and lost his mother the following year due to the grief of losing her love of life...
He has a MBBS degree and is working at a private hospital as an emergency medical officer for 6 months.
The only reason he became a doctor was to find a reason and possibly treatment to his nightmare .Because every time he goes to a hospital as a patient, they say he is perfectly healthy - whether physical or psychological.
Even taking sleeping pills didn't relieve him from his nightmare.
But finding not a single solution after such a long time, he just goes about his life through the same everyday motions while escaping reality with games and novels.
After getting refreshed, and eating a toast with a glass of milk he took the subway train to go to work. While sitting in the train, Graham kept scrolling his phone reading his recent favourite novel and noticed the date- 'June 3'.
'Tomorrow's going to be my birthday. And it's going to be a long day', he thought and laughed at himself with mirth for not having anyone to celebrate the birthday for him.
Yes, he had friends but he distanced himself from them after losing his parents and due to increasing frequency of his nightmares.
***
After reaching the Hospital he goes to work as usual.
While he looked like a zombie and walked with a tired expression, the nurses still held great respect for him and started wishing 'good mornings' to him with bright smiles.
Because even after losing his drive in life, he still treats the patients with serious care and carefully instruct the nurses on medical practices that'll help them in their career.
After working 6 hours there and grabbing his lunch at the hospital cafeteria he left work to go back. But on the way due to feeling emotional about his birthday he changed directions and went to his parent's graves.
After spending the remaining day talking and reminiscing with his parents about his life, he went back home and ordered a simple dinner along with a small piece of cake online for his birthday celebration.
At 11:59 PM,
Graham lit up a candle on that small piece of cake and asked for the blessings of his father and mother.
The moment clock turned 12:00 AM and he tried to blow the candle, a sharp pain coursed through his entire body.
The pain was so sudden and so intense, so before he could of anything he immediately blacked out.