Submission (#76) Approved

A little too early, a little too late.

Morning, before even the edge of the sun’s shine peeks from the horizon. The time before the alarms blare, before Gerw has her fit of lightning zoomies, before the birdsong. Way beyond, when the drunkards make it half into bed, the children lie awake desperately attempting to suffocate themselves back to their dreams with firm pillows, faces to the cold side.

There’s no daylight, and the thoughts get a little too loud for comfort, it’s hard to slip back to sleep when your head is whirring and your body is rested enough but not enough to rule out a longer afternoon nap.

The inconveniencing hour, Melitodes’ least favorite ever.

His most sweet dreams spur from the brain when he’s awake at this hour, unwinding to space and far out of his mind, the world takes a seat on the stool, in the spotlight, in the dark. What things are on the to-do list, what worries to entertain before beginning, what to discuss alone with himself? It’s a stumble as the starting pistol raises to the sky, a disqualified day, a lame moment to drudge through for Meli.

Bang.

Except there’s no bang, no fall, no amount of tossing and turning can get his good morning back.

…

But at least Gerw snoozes soundly.

Reward	Amount
Cinder	350