Piece

I hear a moan coming from my head; I feel it comes from within me.

"Where are you, where are you, tell me who you are?"

I'll end up going crazy; I light a cigarette as I try to clear my mind, but the crying doesn't fade. So, I smoke even faster until I feel my throat on fire.

"I can't breathe."

"Why do you hurt yourself, Isaac?"

"Who are you?"

"I don't want to disappear."

"Neither do I."

I'm crying again, sitting huddled in the bathroom.

I think I had a daydream, or at least I hope so. Otherwise, it would mean I'm going mad.

It's late; I have to go to university; maybe I'll see that girl again. A smile appears on my face, but immediately, I feel like tearing my skin off.

"What's wrong with wishing for someone, Isaac?"

"I'm not that kind of person."

"Really, and what kind are you?"

"I'm not like..."

I bite my hand in an attempt to regain clarity, "not yet, not yet."

I've almost drawn blood.

I arrive at school; she is in front of the entrance, seeming impatient.

"You're always so late?"

"Sorry."

"Are you okay? It seems like you've fought against yourself."

"What?!"

This girl seems to know more things than she says.

I look at her carefully; she is about my height, with long black hair that perfectly complements her very pale skin, but it's her eyes, blue as the ocean, that leave me speechless.

She's looking at me while I remain frozen.

"Sorry, Isaac, I didn't mean to disturb you."

Instantly, I thaw. "She really seems to understand me."

"Would you like to do something together after class?"

"Sure."

For once, my mind empties. "This girl makes me feel good, I think."

It's the first time I allow myself to be with someone; usually, I never feel up to it. But this girl, I don't know, makes me feel different. I just hope not to ruin everything.

We decide to go to the cinema, something quiet.

"See you later, Isaac?"

"Yes, later."

I feel anxiety rising throughout my body.

"Isaac, don't make me disappear."

I don't want to hear it, not now.

Nothing to do; the voice becomes more and more insistent; it seems to come from within me.

In recent days, I have been constantly hearing voices from my head, talking to me. They seem to know me, but I don't know them. The more I try to drive them away, the more they persist, and my head starts to burst; it really hurts.

I'm in front of the mirror, looking at myself terrified, a hysterical smile appears on my face. "What are you thinking?"

"Isaac, why don't you come to me? I can make it stop."

"Do you want to hurt him?"

"Now you want to tell me that you care?"

"I don't want anyone to suffer."

"Are you willing to suffer for others?"

"I think so."

I break the mirror with a punch; I don't feel the pain, but my hand is bleeding.

"I should get ready, I suppose."

But I don't feel clear enough to leave the house.

I think she waited for me for hours, but I'm too tired; I have to sleep.

From that day on, I felt her more and more in my head; the pressure increased every minute. I just wanted the pain to disappear.

I think I got lost in my mind.

I haven't left the house since that day; I only feel the pain and the phone ringing repeatedly.

"How do I stop feeling anything?"

"You just have to come to me and reach out."

"But I'm afraid of you."

"Why, Isaac?"

"You have power over me."

"You gave me this power."

"Do you really exist?"

"Yes."

A shiver runs down my spine.

I can't help but think that maybe I'm insane.

I go to the kitchen to have a glass of water, but when I turn on the light, I see a crying child in front of me.

"Who are you? How did you get into my house?"

"I am you, Isaac."

"What?!"

"Please don't kill me."

"I would never hurt you."

I approach him slowly and stroke his head; I don't know why, but it makes me feel better too.

I stayed an hour waiting for the child to calm down and decide to come with me to the bedroom.

"You have a nice house, Isaac."

"Thank you. What's your name?"

"My name is Liam."

"How do you know me?"

"Because I am a part of you."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that I am always you, but a little different."

My head is about to explode.

So let's summarize: you don't really exist; you're just in my head. "Take a deep breath, Isaac."

But if I talk to you, it only means one thing: I'm really crazy. "Now what do I do? I can't do anything anymore; my life is over."

I look out the window; it's morning. I haven't slept a wink. "How do I go to university now?"

"Shall we go to school now?"

"You're not coming with me, okay? You stay here."

"I'll go wherever you go."

Fantastic, my life has become a nightmare.

I think I'll stay home again today; I just have to figure out how to get rid of him.

I go to the bathroom, slap myself, and wash my face. "Come on, Isaac, you can't be crazy; there must be an explanation for all this."

"Do you really not see it?"

"You again."

"Stop lying to yourself, Isaac."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You have to look back."

"I don't have a past."

"We all have a past, Isaac."

"Stop it!"

"Look."

My whole body hurts; I can't move; my head is bursting. "I want to die."

In front of me, there is a faceless woman tying me to a chair, yelling at me not to move, or she'll kill me.

"That's not me."