I felt pain
It wasn't pain in the traditional sense, not pain so much as a disarming sense of... vibration. This is how it always began - the feeling of a high-pitched tone, a vibration starting in my teeth and nose, slowly and meticulously spreading across my face in an altogether familiar pattern, and then casually invading my body, which has been paralyzed, imbuing me with a disorienting yet comforting feeling.
I had been here in this transitional state countless times, but as with every time before, I had no idea it was coming, nor did I have any idea where it was going. I knew I had to stay awake without actually waking up, however, as my brain's reticular activating system went into a dream state incongruous with my conscious mind being active. Otherwise this rare chance to frolic within the world of my own mind would be wasted.
I had been here in this transitional state countless times, but as with every time before, I had no idea it was coming, nor did I have any idea where it was going. I knew I had to stay awake without actually waking up, however, as my brain's reticular activating system went into a dream state incongruous with my conscious mind being active. Otherwise this rare chance to frolic within the world of my own mind would be wasted.