In a Vacuum

The once loud and bustling noise dissipated at this moment. Lucille felt as if she had been thrown into a vacuum, completely cut off from all the sensory information from the outside world. When she was blind and couldn't see, she remained composed and easygoing. But now, after her hearing had also vanished, she felt as if she had been abandoned by the world, no longer able to connect with the sounds outside, no longer able to hear those messages. Lucille's chest tightened as a sweet, metallic taste welled up in her throat. The next second, she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Frantically, she groped for a tissue to wipe her mouth, balling it up tightly in her hand before anyone could notice. Fortunately, as the poison gradually receded, the outside sounds started coming back. Lucille could hear the sweeping noises in the not-so-distant, the sound of Jolene wiping the tables and chairs, and the operation of the washing machine. All so vivid, lingering on in her ears. Lucille had nev