Comfort Zone

A deep, weighted blanket of warmth and peace engulfs her mind and body. Creeps into the deep crevices of her soul. Mind is such a bliss, as is the body, with the warmth of an un-mindfulness. It craves the state to not last ever. The moments suspend in time and the being becomes a singular entity in one's existence. As if it is an everlasting promiscuous (indiscriminate) universe. The ultimate abode of comfort; the singularity of mind and body with peace and warmth.

A buzzing sounds of the alarm makes Sarah jump out of her deep slumber. The moment felt as if a bucket of of cold water was splashed down her head.

It's past 7 on the clock and she's already late. It felt like as if the state of the ultimate divine was over in a second. The bitter reality of the day takes charge of her mind; as it comes to senses from a sharp turn of state.

A different kind of heaviness creeps over the mind and body. An unwanted one.

The one that is despised.

Heavily despised!

The mind has no thoughts, yet she can feel the numbness of her body through the tingling sensation in her fingertips. A lump in her throat chokes her; that no amount of water or saliva could swallow.

She takes a deep breath to put her, now different state, together. The breath is shaky. Reeks of nervousness and fear. The nervousness and heaviness of an upcoming event.

She has to be brave;

Too brave!

''There are no thoughts, but how come there are emotions?''

''How can there be emotions without thoughts?''

She wonders in the silence of her room that is now filled by the brightness of the morning sunlight, as the white curtains are drawn; Making the room a lot more alive.

''This is just another day. The same room, the same sunlight, the same bedcovers, the same ME'' she wonders. ''But why does the day feel different today? Heavier''.

If anyone could see Sarah today. She's the same as she was yesterday, but only she knows that she is different. All her life apart and this day apart. This day has a weight she cannot describe. As if it is apart from her USUAL LIFE!

''Usual''. It is such a blessing. It might be a regular day for most people. The ''Ah its the usual'' is such a Comfort Zone. The usual day is like a fresh breeze. It's never short each day.

Every day is a usual day.

Yet today is an Error 101.

Sarah wants today to be a usual boring day.

She wants to go back to sleep even though she is late. She is not worried anymore because nothing worse than this can happen.

The ''worst'' is a feeling which is already there, in her body, and it is out of her comfort zone.

She goes downstairs as usual to grab a cup a coffee. To smooth the not so familiar buzzing sound in her mind.

''There is no need of a coffee today. Not that it is going to help anyways'', She tells herself.

''No one is home its too late''. She looks at the clock.

''Not that it matters''

She roams the house one last time. She goes to her parents room. A sweet picture of her childhood is laying on her mother's side of the bed. It was from a trip that she took with her parents when she was 8. Memories are still vivid of this day.

Her parents are the sunshine of her life. They are high school sweethearts. Love at first sight. People envoy their love for each other and how they have stuck together through the thick and thin of life.

She touches the wetness of the photo-frame. She realizes that she is unable to feel the wetness of the frame or the coolness of glass. Only thing that she can feel is numbness in her fingers. Which reminds her that she has been numb for a while.

And she is late.

She takes one last look at her parents room, before she leaves for where she is supposed to be...

*

2 days ago...

''Sarah.. come downstairs sweetheart; breakfast is ready'' her mother calls.

It is a regular day. Bliss.

Sarah gets done with her usual meal. Toast and eggs with a cup of coffee. She takes her backpack as both her parents leave for work and drop her off to school on the way.

Sarah gets done with her classes. And goes to the community club with Jake, after they are both done with their homework at the campus.

Jake is her boyfriend. She and Jake had been inseparable since they were two. They play together. They do homework together. They go to the swimming lessons together. Till the day is over and Jake leaves at 7. Only to start all that over the next day.

Jake is also her comfort zone. It is obvious that, like her parents, she and Jake are going to spent the rest of their lives together.

''Soul bound'', as they say.

Sarah comes back home only to recieve a call from Jake. He reminds her how much he misses her and he invites Sarah and her family at dinner to his house. ''I'll let mom and dad know'' she says with joy.

She goes downstairs for dinner. They do dinner together, no matter how hectic the day is. Its the rule. She tells her parents about the dinner invitation from Jake. Who lives just across the block from her house.

*

Today...

As she arrives to attend the service the, the bells of the church indicate that service is already done and she is late. She rushes to her mothers side, who is holding the scarf that she was wearing yesterday. She was sobbing. Words choking in her mouth. Sarah puts her hand on her mother's shoulder to reassure her that she is by her side. Her mother is no longer in her sensed as she keeps clutching the scarf and keeps staring into nothingness.

Seeing her mother like this breaks Sarah's heart into a million pieces.

Another feeling adds to her deep dread. Frustration. Why is she unable to console her mother? The sunshine of her life. She leaves in frustration to look for her father.

She finds him with a bunch of other people. He is a lot more composed than her mother. But she is sure that there is a bigger storm on the inside. It looks like he is explaining a series of events to a bunch of people she hardly knows. She does not want to hear his voice. She knows that his voice is going to add to another feeling. That's weakness.

Weakness is the last feeling she wants, as she has a long way to go.

*

Sarah sees her parents and a bunch of people gathered by a coffin. It is the hardest part of the day. As the body leaves the temporary abode to get dissolved into the Earth. She passes those people to reach the decreased. Only to see a familiar face inside.

Its hers'

She sees herself laying lifeless, cold as stone, and excellently dressed by her parents for the last time. Her beautiful brunette curls brush her face. As she touches them in awe. She stills looks as if its time to wake up once again. Yet not anymore.

She actually did not wake up after that night she was invited to dinner. Doctors said it was a cardiac arrest. But she felt nothing. She saw everything. But no one could see her. The comfort zone is gone for a while.

*

She hasn't seen Jake. Where is Jake? She saw his parents but not him. Where is he?

She roams around for a while to look for Jake. But he is nowhere to be found. She wanted to see him for one last time at least.

Gravel was being shoved over the coffin with shaking hands and muffed sobs. But Jake was nowhere to be found. As the last shove of gravel is tossed and the ground smoothened. She notices the silhouette of Jake.

She rushes to him as he smiles at her and offers her his hand to hold. Just the sight of him drives her towards lightness. She wants to tell him so much. She knows he is the only one who can listen to her. Weight lifts her body, as she moves forward, towards him. The heaviness lifts her mind, and the numbness washes away into liveliness.

She calls his name looking right at his gleaming face. She holds his hand looking right into his brown eyes, full of life, with a matching smile; as slowly her being annihilates into the lightness of her Comfort zone, Forever this time.

Writer's note: If you like this story please leave a comment below to let me know your thoughts. Your feedback is highly appreciated.

With love,

Samara