Chapter 47: The Man Slept
Derek’s mind was a very strange place. That much he knew. Unlike most people who could easily lose several hours focusing on one thing at a time, he often had several thoughts going on at once. He could be writing a report on expected profit margins while at the same time, looking at the expected profits and losses for the year, and then comparing them with those from the past years, looking for ways to improve without ever missing a beat. His brain was constantly processing, taking in new information and either storing it away for later use, or instantly coming up with ways in which it would be useful.
His mind was constantly in a take, take, mode, never fully resting, never stopping. And even the little naps he sometimes managed were not really restful.
For when Derek slept during those times, it did not feel as though he was sleeping, it felt as though he was shutting down...going away. Like the moment his eyes closed, he stopped existing, and that was a terrifying feeling, which was why his brain always came back online so quickly. He had to make sure that he was still there, still alive, still a human being, and it was so very tiring.
But this time, there was a new addition to Derek’s sleep. Something warm and soft in all the ways that he was not. And when Derek’s still asleep pulled it closer to investigate, he found that it smelled like bright sunshine over a field of flowers. Like the care free laughter of children simply out and about enjoying their youth. Playing, running, and just enjoying all that the world had to give. New life, that was what the soft thing smelled like. Sunshine, all the good things, and new life.
Spring, the new addition smelled like spring, and Derek’s unconscious mind instantly loved it.
For the warm spring was a beautiful thing. It calmed Derek’s mind, letting his brain know that it was alright to sleep, to rest, to not be so on edge all the time. Rest, said the sunshine against his skin. Sleep, the fresh spring air told him. And that was what he did.
But as soon as he began to sink deeper into the land of dreams, Derek began to fade, going away piece by piece. Toes, legs, hands, all of the parts that built up his body began to fade. The nothingness slowly eating at him, taking him away to a place Derek did not want any part of. His mind, upon realizing this panicked, instantly trying to bring him up, to drag him to the waking world, but before his mind could begin to actually do that, the new soft thing, the thing that smelled like spring and reminded him of fields of flowers intervened.
There was a scent like flower petals in the wind and just like that, Derek was no longer alone. Someone was with him in the vast landscape of his mind.