BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

A deep sigh escaped my lips as I slightly opened my eyes and rolled over half-heartedly to hit the snooze button on the irritating alarm clock on my nightstand.

Another day.

A new chance to screw up my life even more. Yeah, that's about as positive as I can get at this point.

I lay there staring at the cieling, contemplating whether I really needed this new job I got lucky enough to land a few days ago. What's the point anyway. I know it eventually won't work out, so why put any effort into it.

My alarm goes off again just as my eyes are drifting closed. Slightly startled, I pummel the top of my inexpensive clock as an inital reaction. It makes a slight popping sound under my fist and I sigh. Hopefully I didn't break it. Can't afford another one.

Sliding out of my bed in the most listless fashion possible, I sit for a moment on the floor and then reach for my phone. Why am I even bothering. No missed calls. No new messages. What was I expecting anyway?

I toss my phone on the bed and slowly move to reach for my work clothes I had dumped on the floor last night. I've wasted too much time wallowing in pity, I'm going to be late to this job I probably won't have long anyway. Standing slowly, I put on the black slacks and a long sleeved white button up shirt, then slid on the black vest that the owner just had to require I wear. I made a pitiful attempt to brush off the wrinkles that had appeared do to me tossing my clothes, but they seemed to be there to stay.

I meandered into the kitchen. My apartment was very small and basically in shambles, but with my track record for jobs and frequent late rent payments, I was lucky to even have this place still, even though it is the cheapest on the market. I grabbed the stale convenience store pastry that had been on the table who knows how long and attempted to take a few bites of the rock hard tart. Quickly giving up on that quest, I tossed it toward the overflowing trash can. It bounced to the floor with a pathetic hollow thump.

Glancing at the clock on the wall and again realizing the time, I scurried to my room, grabbed my phone and keys, and walked out the door. I locked the door securely behind me, and turned to find my elderly neighbor who's name I could never remember, wandering around the hall.

"Oh, hello there, dear," she said as I tried to escape her sight unsucessfully.

I turned to her and struggled desperately to pull my lips up into at least somewhat of a smile as I looked at her wrinkly, smiling face. "Hello, maam."

"Don't forget, Susumu and I are getting married and you are invited!"

"Yes, maam, how could I forget."

"I don't remember when we set the date for, but I will let you know tomorrow!" She excitedly clapped her hands like a school girl in love and giggled in delight.

"I'll be waiting," I said, as I tried desperately to not let the pity show in my eyes. Maybe some people have it worse off than me, I thought to myself.

She suddenly paused for a moment, looked around the hall, and then looked up at me with those foggy eyes. "Oh, hello there, dear."

I sighed softly and said, "Hello, maam, I need to leave for work now."

Her face brightened again as she said, "Go! Do your best! I must meet my Susumu for lunch!" She quickly scurried away up the stairs, away from the direction of her own apartment. Hopefully she will find her way back, I thought, my conscience somewhat nagging at me. I really have to hurry though.

I hastily made my way down the stairs and out to where I had left my sorry excuse for a bike. Fumbling with the chain that it didn't really need due to the fact no one would want this rusty junk, I unlocked it from the side of the old fence, mounted, and took off down the road. So far my boss had been forgiving, but my tardiness probably wouldn't be overlooked for long, if I did stay employed there, that is.

I burst around each corner, startling an excessively flirtatious couple in my haste. I could hear the man exclaim in anger as the woman clung to him but I did not take the time to look back or listen to his complaints. I came up on the university, not slowing my speed even slightly. As I was about to surge past the entrance, I suddenly collided with an obstruction that had made it's way right into my path.

CRASH

Shit. I don't have time for this.