This Library’s on FIIIIIIIIREEE Lane Barsh

The appealing attributes of a weighted blanket are endless. As advertised by the enthusiastic voice on the TV, the pressure induced by heavy comforters can soothe anxiety and provide a tranquil and heavy sleep. So, upon Charlie’s arrival as a freshman in his first year of college, he felt it was an opportune time to try out the famous weighted blanket. With his dad’s 2010 Bed Bath & Beyond coupon, Charlie picked out the perfect 15-pound beige weighted blanket and carried it to his dorm room. In his first few nights using the blanket, Charlie felt calmer than ever, sinking into his mattress and curling his toes around it. Charlie reached a seemingly blissful sleep that carried him to a dimension of comfort he could never have imagined before. Being so thankful for this sleep, Charlie felt as if he even formed an emotional connection with his blanket, so from then on, Charlie named his blanket Romeo, and told everyone about Romeo.

As fall came to a close and Charlie left for winter break, he made the executive decision to keep his weighted blanket at school and not drag the heavy load all the way home. While Charlie was away, a brush of wind blew through his dorm window and allowed a whimsical power to overtake Romeo. In doing so, the blanket was given psychic powers and gained its own consciousness. Romeo would come to know the danger that loomed over Charlie’s future. However, Charlie was not aware of his innocent blanket’s newfound superpower.

Once Charlie came home from winter break, Romeo was comfortable with the powers granted to him and prepared to use them for Charlie. On February 12th, Charlie found himself gasping for air under the six notebooks that rested on his lap. As he worked to complete his homework, Charlie launched himself onto his bed and stretched his legs under his blanket to take a 20-minute power nap for the purpose of increasing his productivity. However, 15 minutes into the nap, Charlie’s phone blared an obnoxious ringtone. Charlie’s friend Matt called to ask Charlie to meet him at the library in 10 minutes.

As the studious guy he was, Charlie agreed to meet Matt at the library to review their Chemistry notes. However, when Charlie tried to peel himself from his warm comforter, he could not get up. While he did do a strenuous workout the day before, Charlie was not sore to the extent where he completely lost mobility. Instead, it was the blanket that was the issue. Charlie wasn’t dreaming, he was actually now stuck — glued by his blanket to his mattress. He tore at the stringy ends of the blanket to try to untangle it and get out, but he failed.

Back at the library, Charlie’s study buddy Matt sat next to the fourth floor staircase and began setting up his textbooks for optimal studying. However, as time passed, Matt’s brows tensed as he sat anxiously waiting for Charlie’s arrival.

Sweat dripped down Charlie’s back and he worked to break the seal that his blanket formed around him. He developed numerous strategies to get himself unattached from the weighted blanket, but failed at each attempt. Charlie’s strategy of undressing and sliding out naked was as much of a failure as his attempt to shred the blanket with the paper shredder that sat next to his bed.

During Charlie’s hectic scene, the stench of smoke surfaced in Matt’s nose while he sat nervously in the library tapping his foot against the carpeted floor. To his left, a fire broke out and began spreading around each bookshelf in the library. Matt’s white Canada Goose coat caught fire and sent him into disarray, coughing after each attempt at a breath. Each time Matt scrubbed the ashes off of his lashes and could open his eyes for a split second, the only sights he could capture were those of books, backpacks, and clothes lighting up the room in the red-orange hue of the fire. Within 30 seconds, the flames caused lifelong damage to Matt’s lungs, and the firefighters who ultimately rescued him told Matt that he would not have survived one more second inside the smoke-filled building. Grateful that his friend mysteriously did not show up for their study date, Matt decided to make one last attempt at reaching Charlie before heading to the hospital with the other victims.

In the meantime, Charlie’s blanket stayed wrapped around him and got tighter every minute. Charlie’s arms were ultimately engulfed by the blanket, and he lost all mobility. Now, when Matt called Charlie for the second time, to inform him of the fire, Charlie couldn’t answer the call.

Seeing Matt’s name on the phone only further intensified Charlie’s angst. Charlie knew his friend would be upset, assuming he had bailed on him and didn’t even have the respect to call. Charlie tossed and turned, beads of sweat growing atop his brows, his lungs gasping for air, his muscles begging for a break. Slowly, Charlie’s weak attempts at escape fizzled and he was left in a barely-there state of consciousness, losing control of his eyelids as they grew heavy. Fighting the losing battle with his eyes, Charlie succumbed to the abyss of sleep that lay ahead of him.

— Lane Barsh