A Sudden Spark

Total quiet. Then, a pulse—sharp and electric right behind my eyes. I blinked. My hands actually moved when I told them to. I was tucked into the middle cushion with other plushies, trapped under folds of a green pixelated blanket. Instead of staying stuck, I dug my small arm out and gave the edge of the blanket a firm shove. The fleece peeled back just enough. Right nearby lay a sleek black remote on the cushion. I reached forward, tapped my fingers across its rubber buttons, and felt the faint, thrilling reality of solid plastic under my grip. I'm awake. And nobody tells me to sit still.