Hell

First Chapter

Dante's life could not be called normal in any way. Being the main focus of care for doctors and his family has become harder and harder to deal with. At the age of five years old he was diagnosed with a rare sickness, which involve part of his brain. This abnormality was only found in few people in all around the world. And has the same symptoms that insomnia has. But it´s different, firstly because it affects older people and not too younger children. 

Dante's nightmares grow darker every night. Sleeping has become a martyrdom with no escape, and the options are running out. The pills no longer affect him.

Until one day Dante doesn't wake up.

And the real horror begins.

Insomnia consists in the difficulty to sleep or stay asleep. In young patients this is seen in short periods, which are triggered by stress during an exam stage. The disorder can also be chronic and lifelong.

In Dante, insomnia reached the sweet age of four and never left. The horrifying nightmares that accompanied him came shortly after, right after the first dose of sedatives he was given at the Cambridge Complex.

As a child, it was normal for him to sleep a few hours at night, but his mother, Lisa's concern slowly grew as his late-night schedule was extended. Instead of five hours, it was three. Then two thirty, and finally two.

But Dante seemed so normal back then that to any doctor it might seem like an exaggeration on the mother's part. The boy was not irritated, played with race cars and showed no signs of sleepiness. However, the new mother held back against surrender and sought professional help.

The Cambridge Complex, which was then a research center for disorders, helped him.

They did a psychological evaluation, Lisa felt the fear that they would deny her a consultation given the results, which were always the same before her eyes:

                                                             "Dante is a healthy boy."

To her surprise and gratitude, the doctor and specialist Rubén Roldán, offered to do a night evaluation. Dante would have to spend the night in the center, following the same routine as at home.

The mother accepted, knowing that the usual would happen. Dante wouldn't even go near the bed.

But seeing that her options were running out, she had no other choice. She would be behind glass, along with the doctor, while her son would be watched, and perhaps, hopefully, diagnosed with some rare disease.

At that point, the woman would do anything to get six hours of sleep.

"First we want to see how Dante's brain activity works," he explained, "the brain develops until the age of twenty-five, in children it is possible that we find any kind of abnormality. We will monitor your son's sleep pattern using electrodes and placing them on her head, ”she continued as she walked towards the woman, and pointed to a machine at the back of the room. The electroencephalogram is a neurophysical measurer of brain activity, through the electrodes, we can see what is happening in Dante's head- he said, taking the electrodes to show them closely. It may seem weird, I know, but it is normal. We have seen many children with the same problem, and many mothers in the same situation-, compressively, he extended the cables to the haggard woman, who grabbed them with doubt, flashing her eyes. If there is something wrong, the signal will pick up on it, and if we can't see anything, we will do an MRI. Don't worry, Cecilia.

"Thank you, really thank you ... I don't know what to do anymore, he doesn't sleep at all, but he always has energy," she laughed nervously, shaking her head. I'd like to say the same about myself, but I can't. I'm exhausted and sometimes I feel like I can't take care of it, it's a long time. I confess sadly, feeling a slight burden come off her.

The serious doctor smiled kindly at him. We will find out what happens to you, don't worry.

Much to her regret, and hating each other in the end, Cecilia asked, "How much will this cost, doctor?" Is it an expensive study?

-It is a complex study. But do not worry about the price, given the characteristics of the case, it can be research. That would mean that the state would pay for it. Anyway, you don't have to put a penny. I assure. Cecilia handed him the electrodes back, and he didn't know what to say.

"Bring him on Wednesday morning, we want her to spend the day here, and then the night"-, taking up the conversation, she put the cables in their place, and walked with the lady to the office door.

"Thanks, should I bring something?" -She inquired, thinking of an object that would have helped her son sleep in the past.

-"Whatever makes Dante comfortable, remind yourself of something that he has slept on in the past. If you think that helps, bring it along"-, he suggested.

The mother smiled at him, and held out her hand. Sure, doctor.

Rubén opened the door for him, and said goodbye with a handshake. See you, Cecilia.