Last Hope

Lost consciousness, Awakened Ages later. Pain Followed by pressure, Appeared to flash, To beat Like streams of fire. Sensations, Unaccompanied by thought. Power only to feel; Feeling was torment. Conscious of motion. Encompassed in a cloud. Swinging, Like a pendulum. Terrible suddenness. Light shot upward, Noise of splash, Frightful roaring, Cold and dark. Power of thought restored. Rope had broken, Fallen into stream, Opened eyes, Gleam of light above. Rising, Realizing, “That is not so bad.” -from An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce