The Word of Usha: Part 6

I barely slept that night.

I was scared Audrey would leave very early in the morning and I wouldn't be able to stop her.

And, of course, I was thinking about Usha.

Was she sleeping soundly? Would she slip back into a coma? And why on earth had she been so focused on me? What had she meant when she asked me if I was awake? Every time I asked myself this question, a peculiar sensation filled my belly.

It was like a fire.

No, more like a warm and tingling sensation.

I pushed it away as much as I could, telling myself to get it together.

I do remember having a brief, strange moment of insight somewhere in the middle of the night, when I was so exhausted that I had drifted into a restless sleep.

I realized that the feeling in my belly was the same feeling I used to have when someone noticed me as a child.

A teacher or a counselor taking the time to get to know me, you know? Suddenly, for a few moments, I could see myself as a stream of consciousness.

I was still that kid.

I was still that teenager.

But I was also different.

Very, very different.

You must think I was losing it.

If you don't think that now, you probably will soon.

Anyway, I'll try to focus a bit more.