But it was happening more often. The flashbacks. Fractured dreams of him. A phantom clawing at his mind, unrelenting.

From time to time, Danny tried to remind himself: He was poison. They all were. Twisted. Rotten to the core, every one of them. Enemies on every side, plotting, grinning. Waiting for their chance to bury him.

He could feel the walls closing in. The weight of their stares, their whispered threats.

“No,” he gasped, dragging his hands roughly through his hair, fingers digging into his scalp. “Stop it. Calm down.” He forced himself to breathe, the words trembling out, “It’s okay. It’s...okay.”

But in the silence, the echoes remained.

Danny eyes flung around the room furiously, they were everywhere. Pointing and laughing at him: it was like they got off on his misery. He kept on repeating “leave me alone” but they just got louder, stronger, more irresistible.

But he wouldn’t succumb to their remarks. Quickly, he got up and sprinted to the bathroom. He was towered over the sink, rinsing his face with cold water. A pathetic way to stop them.

Over and over without fail cupping his hands and bringing it to his face. Each cold droplet waking him up...

It’s okay

He looked at the mirror, his reflection doused in freezing water. “Come on Danny, don’t be like this today. It your first day of Uni, think of it as a fresh start. Forget all of them and get your shit together.” Playfully, the slapped himself and forced a smile. Ready for a new start....