The laughter reverberated in his head… All of it. He couldn’t make it stop. They laughed at him when he went out shopping. They laughed at him when he walked the dog. They laughed at him at the doctor’s office. They laughed and laughed and laughed…
At night, he couldn’t sleep. He pulled the covers over his head. Still, they laughed. “Shut up. Shut up. SHUT. UP!” He yelled but they laughed louder.
He got up and turned the TV on. He paced the house. He tried loud music and headphones… Still they laughed. They laughed so loud the neighbor called to complain. “I can’t help it,” He told her, “they won’t stop.”
When the paramedics found him, he was sitting, curled up in the corner, hugging his legs. They tried to ask him questions but he just laughed and laughed and laughed…
Originally published for Instagram’s Beautiful Writing Challenge July 2019 Day 24 “laughter”
Natolie Webb 