Reach A Little Farther

Rise and Shine

The clouds hung low in the sky, dragging around the sweet smell of rain as they lingered in the small town, waking lynn from a deep sleep. As the morning chased out further and further she finally decided to get up, the sunlight shining through the curtain slits and directly into her eyes. Lynn couldn't risk missing another school day without being expelled.

She rose from the tantalizing grip of the blankets, using all her willpower to resist flopping back over into the sheets and just earning a failing grade for the day. Lynn stretched just enough to reach the velvety curtains and pull them open without leaving her bed. The room was instantly filled with soft sunlight, clouds allowing the smallest rays to peak through. The light was just bright enough to keep her awake and out of bed.

Lynn leaned up into a stretch, listening to her joints pop after being dormant for hours. Her eyes adjusted quickly, readying her for what would inevitably be a long and exhausting day.

She padded across the room to the closet, which was jammed with unfolded clothes, a small rubber band the only thing keeping it closed. Removing the rubber band a few shirts tumbled to the ground, lynn grabbed a clean one from the closet shelf with a pair of shorts and started getting dressed. In the middle of shuffling into a shirt, Lynn spotted the alarm clock, which had oh so kindly failed to alert her she had ten minutes to get to class. Quickly shoving on the shorts, Lynn sprinted out of her room, barely remembering the backpack set beside the doorframe.

After tripping down the stairs, quickly brushing out the tangles in her hair, and scarfing down an uncooked bagel, Lynn burst out the door and began running to school. She ignored her roommate yelling obscenities about the noise, leaving it as a problem for future her to deal with. In a few long minutes Lynn managed to come within walking distance of the old school, and have minutes to spare before class.

She slowed to a stop now, breathing in the humid air that made her clothes stick to her body and hair feel overly greasy. Finally after catching her breath, Lynn stepped into the building past a few tired teens sitting outside on the steps. They whispered a greeting and she nodded back in return.

After years of attending this dumpster fire of an education, Lynn knew just about every classroom and hallway by heart, as well as a few extra hidden rooms that even most staff weren't aware of. With purposed strides she maneuvered the halls in record time, entering her class just before the bell rang, silently praising herself.

To her surprise, the classroom was mostly empty save for the few students previously asleep at their desks now ubrubtly woke by the bell. Lynn's teacher cleared his throat, grabbing her attention.

"Glad to see you back in class today, your majesty."

He said sarcastically, scowling at her attire, which she hadn't realized was composed of a baggy, clearly beaten up, old t-shirt, her frayed jean shorts,and a fluffy pair of slippers.

"I hope your Dreamland won't miss you too much. Have a seat."

Lynn huffed but nodded in acknowledgement, it was the only day this week she hadn't been extremely tardy or a no show, she wasn't exactly asking him to worship the ground she walked on. It wouldn't kill him to appreciate her once in a while. She quickly made her way to her back row seat, several drawings and conversations had been etched out on the table by her and other class periods. Some of the "poems" she had come to appreciate as the year drew on. But others? Eh, Not so much.

"Looks like rain today."

The boy sitting next to her exclaimed, she couldn't help but glance at the growing collection of dark and heavy clouds in the sky. Just great. She hadn't had time to grab an umbrella or coat. A few of the other students pilling into the room past their desks to look out the window, then be scolded moments later for not being seated.