Thirty-SevenEvery so often, I became vaguely aware of music floating somewhere around me. Soothing melodies and lyrics lulled me back to a world of quiet, darkness, where no images flashed behind my eyelids, no dreams invaded my mind, and into a world where time advanced at an ever quickening pace. Each time the music drifted in, it tried to draw me back with it like a riptide. I struggled to break free, wanting to return to my peaceful darkness. Slowly, my body began its decent into the dark abyss again and my muscles relaxed, the music drifted away – unsuccessful. Just as I was about to make the final leap into peaceful darkness, I suddenly became aware that my mouth was wide-open, and drool pooled in its corners on the verge of escape.
I whipped my head forward, closed my mouth, and wi
