It’s mid-afternoon already and I haven’t done anything besides roll out of bed into a nearby chair that faces my blinding laptop screen. I look through my list of emails and nothing but promotions and ads and google links believing it knows what your looking for. Looking out the window, I see today’s strong wind. The trees are moving in directions they don’t usually move in, almost violent, and I’m tempted to continue staring at them as if challenging them to scare me. But I turn away afraid that they’ll succeed.
—
By now I’m frantically going through my drawers, slamming some shut, pulling others open. It’s nowhere, not anywhere. Half of my once neatly folded clothes are hanging on the sides of my dresser holding on for dear life, while the other half clearly didn’t make it. Lying spread out on the ground are the contents of my closet. Hangers sticking up like blades of grass amid melting snow. I knew I should’ve written down where I put it.
I check in my storage boxes and containers, nothing. I find my way back to the drawer of my night-stand. It has to be in there. That’s where I left it. But there’s nothing there except a silver box engraved with initials containing an unidentified pill.
Where did it go?
—
I wake up to the sound and rich aroma of coffee brewing. I fumble through a pile of clothing on the ground and find my black sweater. I pull it on while trying to balance myself to remain standing. My eyes are still adjusting to the morning light as I run my hand across the top of my dresser. I grab my glasses just as they’re falling and put them on. As I walk into the kitchen I see pancakes, waffles, freshly cut strawberries, croissants, scones, jam, maple syrup, and butter. Next to them is a bright golden yellow place-mat, with tiffany-blue rimmed plates, and sparkling silverware. Next to that is a tall glass of what I can only hope to be freshly-squeezed orange juice and what can be described as a coffee-bowl.
“Well, good morning kiddo.”
I look up and smile. “When did you wake up? Or did you just not sleep?”
“Oh well I slept for maybe an hour or two. Then I just thought I’d make some breakfast.”
“Oh, of course.”
He grabs my coffee-bowl and pours a generous amount.
“Black right?”
I nod a bit too hard and now my head hurts. I try to ease the pain by pressing against it with the palms of my hand. No such luck.
“You alright there kiddo?”
“Oh yes. Yes, I’m fine.”
“It’s beautiful today. We should go traipsing about later.”
I take a quick look out the window and it does seem to be a beautiful day.
“That sounds like a nice idea.”
“Just nice?”
I nod my head from side to side, then close my eyes.
“Ah. I’m sorry, I’ll give you a few minutes to wake up.”
I support myself with my hands on the counter as I lightly jump off the stool. I walk over and hug him. I kiss him and he smiles holding back a giggle. I smile back and return to my breakfast.
© estalement 2008
