ESCAPE

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Sai has been examining his route out for six months. A long enough time for him to know the nurses sat in every other corner during the midnight shifts due to a lack of workers. With each diagonal, lied nurse free hallways. North was first. Thirteen West now.

His mouth dried with a stale taste as his pace fastened. He had to hurry. Each tick on the clock felt fleeting. Seventeen steps North.

The air held onto a familiar scent of cleaning liquids and sterilizers and Sai’s head pounded as the overhead lights began to flicker. Twelve more steps North, five steps East.

A bright red light glowed ahead. Sai paused for a moment to swipe his sweaty palms onto his thinly layered gown. Six steps till freedom.

He took his palely coated hand and grasped onto the ice-cold doorknob and winced before slowly twisting. He breathed rapidly while pushing the heavy weighted door forwards.

Dead grass covered the ground. Sai crawled out of the facility sobbing silently. He grips a pile of grass as he looks up. A blinding light surrounds him as the grass grows softer in his fingers. Sai blinks rapidly trying to recover his vision.

As the light finally subdues, Sai begins forming the surrounding area. His hand, accessorized by a pale blue bracelet, holds onto a cream-colored blanket. In front of him, hangs a crooked lavender banner with bright yellow letters that read the words. Get Well Soon.

Sierra Wyks