The phone is ringing. I let it go.

Light slithers through the blinds of my window, as I dully begin to perceive my senses of the world. It seems to make everything glow softly yellow, and I smiled sadly, yawning, the blankets too warm now. I could feel my clothes clinging to me unpleasantly, realizing that I had fallen asleep the day before fully dressed, shoes and all. I rolled on my side and look at the ancient alarm clock sitting on my nightstand. Painfully bringing myself out of the comfort, I lift my arm up to move the small bottles obscuring the time. 7:24 PM I sighed, and hauled my stiff body out of bed, leaving my refuge once again. Dancing around the piles of clothes, papers, and garbage scattering the floor, I groan as my joints crack, and feel my muscles stretch satisfyingly after hours of rest. I instinctively pick up several of the bottles from nightstand before seeking out the kitchen. The living room was colder, refreshingly dark. I reached the drapes and fully parted them open, letting the light fill the room like a shower in the winter that had finally reached the water heater. I feel at ease, because for once it doesn t scratch my eyes and strike my head with seething vigour. It is agreeable. My clothes are uncomfortably sticky now, so I discard them onto the floor, activating the rickety fan in the corner. The fridge is bare, but I find a box of crackers in the cupboard, anticipating my arrival. I nibble on a few while filling the electric kettle and turning it on. I return to my room, and after digging through the layers concealing the floor for a time I come across some pants and a t-shirt, slightly more acceptable. Remind myself with the humidity now I d have to make more frequent trips to the Laundromat. I dress, and hearing the shrill whistle return to the counter, making myself a cup of cheap instant coffee. It is soothing to stomach. I return to the living room, and finally settle on the single blinking red square by the fading sofa. Inhaling, I press it. *Beep* Hey, I m off work now. You coming or what? Better be up Meet at my place. *Click* 7:39 PM Tediously I lace my shoes, then turn off the imitational breeze and return the drapes. I pick my coat off the hook on the way out, though it was too warm now to put it on, and bolt the door. Jogging down the narrow stairs, paint chipped away from years of wear, I stop in the landing before leaving. Fishing through my pockets, I hold the minuscule ovals in my hand, and pop them in my mouth casually, feeling them trail down my throat as I swallow. Exciting out onto the street, the sun was soon going to meet the earth and melt away into the horizon. I could feel the heat seeping slowly away with it. Closing my eyes for a moment, I breathed deeply. I felt my self resurface like an ocean mammal taking in air, and then make the dive back down into the depths.

It came then. It pressed against me and whispered slyly in my ear, and I nodded excitedly. I felt it take over me, and it was as if everything finally fell into place.

He opened his eyes, grinning, and started out down the street.