Fifteen.
He fumbles toward an outstretched hand.
Fourteen.
He misses.
Thirteen.
Panic.
Twelve.
The vessel spins away, replaced by a thousand-million stars and utter, utter blackness.
Eleven.
He exhales.
Ten.
Oxygen spills like blood from an open wound.
Nine.
Decompression.
Eight.
There is no time to think.
Seven.
Just sensation. So cold.
Six.
His saliva bubbles.
Five.
It feels very strange. His skin expands like a balloon.
Four.
The vessel seems very far. He tumbles backwards, forever.
Three.
His skin holds taut. It hurts.
Two.
But the pain is distant. Distancing.
One.
The stars wink out. He sleeps, forever.
Zero.
Stephen Duxbury is a full-time writer living in Letchworth, UK with his partner, dog and two cats. He has a doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge, where he studied the concept of metaphysical fundamentality. Presently, Stephen has one writing credit: a short ghost story, “Shudder”. The story has been featured in an anthology of horror stories, “Chills”, published by Len Maynard Publishing. Stephen has written a Young Adult fantasy book, “Not Suffering Still”, which explores the grieving process of those bereaved by suicide. He is currently seeking representation for this debut novel. Twitter: @duxbury_sjd76.
The Centifictionist 
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