Silence

It was 10 pm when I walked into my small apartment home. The only word to describe it was dark. All lights were off.

The sun was facing the other half of the world.

I could only flick on the lights and with a loud click, the room was illuminated.

There was a dog bowl at a corner of the living room and a small bag of dog food.

I didn't call out to the dog, there was no dog. I had no pet because by the third day of being a pet owner I could not stand the barking and noise.

The bloody spots faded to orange stained the floor, the bleach unable to get the color out.

It was always so loud.

You could hear my button-up shirt crinkle and rustle as I walked towards my bedroom to change. A clock was hung above.

My shoes clinked with every step I took that led me farther and farther towards my cabinet doors.

My brain felt fried, in pain. Too much thinking.

The clock hung up above my bed ticked with each second. I could only find it irritating.

The wind howled and rustled through the leaves of multiple trees outside my window.

My shoes were off, I changed into a soft thin shirt.

The wind whistles.

I can't stand it, the trees were so noisy.

I shut the window, making the noise of the wind more subtle

I slipped the glasses of my nose with a sharp clash with the metal of its container. Bothersome.

My head could only pound louder.

I closed my eyes and laid down on the bed trying to ignore the rustling of the blankets.

My body stilled.

Tick

Tick

Tick

Tick

That damn clock continued.

I could not stand the noise of the clock.

My eyes snapped open and searched.

I angrily stood on top of my bed, my arms reaching above my head to grab the damned clock.

As soon as my hands held the plastic annoyance I sent the clock hurdling quickly towards the ground.

Crack

It was broken, the plastic cover was cracked and the shorthand was permanently stopped. But it continued.

Tick

Tick

Tick

Tick

My body moved slowly but my eyes were quick and crazed. I could not, should not. It is late. My eyes strained to glance at the clock which told me that the time was around 1 am.

I could see its vague shape but it was dark. Too dark

I took a step.

Crack

My barefoot-

"Hurts" I whispered angrily.

My bare feet had pieces of sharp plastic deep in my skin. I was bleeding red.

Drip

I could not see but I could hear and I grimaced.

Tick tick tick tick

The pain continued as I sought for the clock. My hands got scratched by the second but I continued on.

As soon as I grabbed the clock I reached for the lamp near my closet.

Clash crack smash

The ticking slowed until it vanished. The night was silent.

He laid back onto the bed as silently as possible. It was certain what he would do about his wounds or the floor, nothing.

He closed his eyes, His feet and arms bleeding from the glass. But he would not stress more than necessary. He wished for sleep. He needs sleep. His eyes were heavy, pained, and hurt.

Silence

Badump

Badump

Badump

HE tried to ignore it

Badump

But it continued

Badump

Badump

Badump

The noise continued on.

He felt his eyes twitch in annoyance.

Badump

Badump

Badump

It did not stop. Why did it not stop.

he knew, it must be stopped. He needs quiet.

Badump

His eyes snapped open and it searched. Finally, his eyes widened in realization, it's heart was the cause.

Badump

Badump

Badump

The noise sped up but it could only grit its teeth in irritation. His hands reached under his nightshirt and scratched.

Slowly as if trying not to make more noise unless necessary but as time wore on both his hands were scratching at his heart with all his strength.

He tried carving a hole into his chest.

Badump

Scratch scratch

Badump

Scratch scratchscratch

'It hurts' he gasped for breath, he felt dizzy.

'Why does it hurt-'

Badump

'- the noise I must rid myself of the noise'

No matter how much he was in pain he could not help but scratch harder at his chest, he did not know.

He did not wish to know that he was killing himself. His blankets are forever stained.

Scratch

His hands finally started to slow their movement, he was sweating, eyes closing, pain vanishing, he couldn't hea-

He couldn't hear, he smiled, and he finally let go. His nails covered in slabs of skin and drying blood.

Through the walls, a muffled ringing sounded, and within a few minutes, the whole neighborhood heard police sirens sounding outside the window.