AGAIN

2:00am

I stared at my alarm clock listlessly, the bright blue figures glaring at me sharply.

My mind was like it was in a haze, I recalled the same dream I have had for the past twenty-four years of my life, but this time it was different, this time I could see the boys eyes, no longer a blurry pixelated mess, although other parts of his face still seemed blurry, his eyes stared at me with as crystal clear gaze full of curiosity.

He had clear eyes that curved and narrowed almost cat like.

it sent shivers down my spine, not out of fear, but because I had seen similar eyes staring at me but with different emotions.

I laid on my side on my small bed blanket on the floor and one of my legs hanging from the edge, I looked like a mess but I couldn't care less, my mind went back to my dream.

'His eyes... why are they suddenly visible to me...'

I turned back the the clock

2:09am

I decided to ignore the dream, and try to get extra sleep, after the accident last year , I decided I would be a model worker and stop coming late, it worked and I sometimes came earlier than most higher ups.

sometimes I felt that getting hit by a car and breaking like six of my ribs was a blessing, it wasn't only the best excuse that saved me from getting fired, it was also a serious wake up call

I was wasting my wife, I was lazy, antisocial, and a pushover.

I worked on most of my bad behaviours and although I'm still lazy, I managed to reduced it, now if I throw a wrapper into the trash and it misses, I would get up and kick it towards the trash can, this was a level up to when I used to just finish eating and leave it on my desk.

my feet felt cold and I instinctively curled up into a foetus position sighing.

I picked up the discarded blanket and covered my feet hugging my pillow tighter, a shiny metal glistened in the moonlight for a moment, and I stared at it with a bit of nostalgia, it was a diamond ring... an engagement ring .

I smiled wistfully memories flooding into my head, a sharp pain like a needle pricked my heart and I suddenly became angry looking at the ring, I felt like ripping it of my finger and throwing it a way, smashing it with a hammer, using pliers to rip it apart, but I didn't, cause this ring was something special to me, and I didn't want to lose it not yet, my eyes glistened a lone tear tickling my cheek, I didn't wipe it off just let it keep falling.

"If I ever see that man again I'll... I'll..."

I puffed out my cheeks exasperated, I didn't even know what to say anymore, I just squeezed the pillow tighter hoping the pain and loneliness would go away and closed my eyes.

Unbeknownst to me, the ringer became warmer and shone a vague white light before simmering down.

...

7:30am

I'M LATE!!!!!

My body moved faster than my mind rushing to do my morning rituals, of all days, I just had to be late, when the company was supposedly having a hostile takeover.

I rushed back and forth, front and middle, lefts and right.

I reviewed everything needed, bath...brush... clothes...deodorant...shoes... food?

I couldn't eat, so as usual I picked a pack of gummy bears out of habit and ran out of the door.

Greeting my neighbour with a polite smile. I rushed down the corridor. I could hear a sigh from behind me but I just picked up my feet running faster.

7:35

I picked up the pace, waving at the shop owners that had witnessed my marathons, to which they hooted and laughed cheering me on.

this pushed me to run faster, I learnt that anytime I was late, they gambled with my chances of arriving on time.

most of them believed that I would fail, it was only a small percent of them that believed in me, that small percent being me, and a sweet grandma that sells cakes beside my house, she always shouted my name the loudest, raising her cane in the air, making you wonder if she was really as old as she looked.

anytime I lost making her lose money she would hit me although lightly with her stick, but whenever I won, she would give me one of her famous. sponge cakes.

with the thought of the sweet mouth watering cake in mind, increased my speed passing some men slapping money into a man's hand.

I ignored them pulling my lips into my mouth, I saw the sign of my company and I felt, like I had seen nirvana

7:58

a black car pulled up in front of the building, I ignored it thinking it was just a normal worker and ran straight into the company brushing against a certain man in a white suit without noticing that that my ring had become warmer.

I raced to my station on the second floor and plopped down on my desk

8:01

That was my best record so far, I smiled taking out my phone and taking a picture making sure to document the time and posted it

almost immediately comments flew in,

PapaRay: Ha!! I win pay up suckers

Sellinggoodfruits: wait a second person above you bet 8:02 the time clearly states 8:01 which means we lost once again.

Mamaspongecake: Who are you calling we, don't ring me in with the rest of you fools, I clearly said 8:01 so make sure to pay up

PapaRay: Mamaspongecake please have mercy I need the money my poor children they need their school fees

Mamaspongecake: Bah!! do I look so old that you think you can swindle me under my shaggy breasts I know all of your children have graduated, why else would you waste your money watching a young lady run everyday

PapaRay: .....

Sellinggoodfruits: .....

I giggle at the comments, ignoring everything around me, suddenly a cough interrupted me from scrolling,, I came face to face with an unknown man looking at me as if trying to understand a rubix cube

"Uh hi..." I said awkwardly dropping my phone on the ground slowly.

"The new CEO would like to see you" was what he said before turning away leaving me to my own over active imagination.

I froze, I wasn't the only one, everyone in the office froze then stared at me with pity.

What....what just happened