I heard his voice.

I heard his words.

I woke up.

When I checked my alarm clock, it was six in the morning, an hour earlier than the time when I’d set it to ring. I thought I called out someone's name during my sleep, but I failed to remember the syllables. As I rubbed my eyes and groggily propped myself up, I figured I might as well take a shower and finish the other half of my homework that remained, discarded onto my desk.

Aunt Cathy was surprised when she realised I was already up. Honestly, I couldn’t really understand why. It wasn’t that rare. The nightmares plaguing my mind were a common occurrence, and if it wasn’t tomorrow, or the day after that, it would always be every three days that I’d wake at hours unhealthier than my demons.

Was I forced to live with this constantly? Yes. Did I like it? Definitely not. Did I want to find some kind of remedy to forget, instead of staring at the pale ceiling and asking myself existential-crisis-worthy questions for hours on end? Probably. Though I wasn’t sure this would solve all the issues at hand.

I took a seat in the kitchen and poured milk into the blue bowl, which contained cereal that would unfortunately soon be soggy. Aunt Cathy observed me in silence. I let out a modest yawn. It was a strange feeling when I noticed that her hair was beginning to turn grey as she tied it into a ponytail. "Are you feeling better today?” her question was filled with honest worry; I still can’t explain why, yet, it made me feel guilty. “I can tell them you aren't well if you don't feel up to it."

If I had been a lazy bum, I would have surely accepted her kindness. However, the only malady I suffered from was fatigue, the kind of tired that every teenager feels down to their bones at seven in the morning before a school day at the beginning of the week.

Yeah. You know exactly what I'm talking about.

“I'm just sleepy,” I said. “Don't worry, Cathy, I can make it there in one piece." I tried to sound energetic whilst shooting her my most reassuring smile, though I'm guessing it must have seemed forced, and dull—it sort of was—since she furrowed her brows shorty after.

Thankfully Aunt Cathy let it pass, and only added, "If you feel tired, do call and I’ll pick you up as soon as possible, all right?"

I could only agree to that as I scoffed down the rest of my breakfast.