Shuffling up the stairs towards my apartment I can't help but rub at my eye, the numbness in the left side of my slowly wearing off as dulling aching slides in to replace it. I'd been forced to cover it on the way home, the anesthetic and paralytic making even the cloudy light light outside nearly blinding, my hand mostly working to hide the dilated pupil and the bloodshot reddened area near the injection sight.
My mind races as I shamble towards the next landing, turning sharply as I move towards the next set of stairs. I didn't feel any different, beyond the marked pain building behind my eyes. Thoughts of whether or not it had even worked quickly begin to creep in, the distracting thoughts nearly causing me to collide with the couple bounding down the stairs.
"On your left!" shouts the familiar voice of Alex, the recent father from across the hall. I quickly inch myself into the right side of the stairwell, wincing as I feel the wooden railing press into my waist. Spreading my fingers slightly I look at the two as they stand a little above me, the world becoming blisteringly bright as I find them cast in deep blurred shadows.
