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It started when Matt woke up and opened his eyes to Hell. Everything was on fire, and his eyes burned. He screamed, crying out the same phrase as if somehow it would change his fate.
“I can’t see.”
Maybe if he said it loud enough God would hear.
“I can’t see”
His father rushed to his side, muttering useless reassurances.
Everything was so loud: the beeping of the machine, the nurses in the hallway, the cars in the parking lot, and even his father’s voice that should have been a comfort. All the sounds blended together, like his senses were tenfold.
He could even smell the overbearing smell of various disinfectants.
It was too much.
What was wrong with him?
“It’s so loud”
Matt raised his hands to his face, desperate to rip off whatever blindfolded him, as if he’d be able to see if it was off.
His dad tried to calm him down, to center him by feeling his face, but the texture of skin was rough, like touching a cactus.
He needed to get away.
He couldn’t see.
He thrashed, hands clawing at the bandage-or whatever the hell it was- off his face. He thrashed, trying to take the IV out to remove the feeling of the ocean rushing through his veins.
It was too much.
He squirmed beneath the rough hospital sheets, not caring that he was kicking his father in the process. He struggled with all his might, with the Devil that his grandmother claimed was in the Murdocks.
The nurses came in not long after, giving something to Matt that dripped loudly in the IV, and then he was out.
He woke up again, heartbroken that his eyes saw the same thing- fire.
He wanted to die, or was he already in Hell?
Something was covering his eyes.
He couldn’t see.
He needed it off.
He reached up with frantic hands to remove what blindfolded him… only to meet resistance. His hands were attached to something unbearably cold and unforgiving.
He tried again, pulling against the force that held him back. He grunted with the effort and gave up with a sob.
“Matty, it’s alright. It’s your dad.” Something heavy made the bed dip with a nauseating creak.
Matt struggled against the restraints again.
“Matty, stop fighting. Remember what I said about ending up like your old man?” His father sighed, breath ladened with sympathy.
“Why am I tied up?” Matt asked, his voice hoarse from the screaming.
“You were trying to hurt yourself so the doctors…”
“Why did they blindfold me?”
“You were in an accident, do you remember?”
“I can’t see!”
“I know, but you saved someone.”
“I-I saved someone?” Matt sniffled, relaxing into his father’s touch on his shoulder.
“Yes, Matt. You were so brave, and I need you to stay brave. Can you do that for me?”
Matt let out a choked sob. “Can they take the cuffs off?”
“I think I can arrange that, as long as you promise not to thrash around again.”
When the nurse came back, she was surprised to find the boy laying down, facing the ceiling and breathing deeply. His heart rate had slowed down tremendously from when she last came in.
“I’m going to take these off, as long as you promise to behave, young man.”
Matt felt the pressure around his wrists subside, and he put them beside him on the bed.
If Matt was going to have to be brave, the least he could do was start now.