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Lockdown day 11

There are days fatigue comes in both physical and mental forms

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There are days fatigue comes in both physical and mental forms. The one way to rid it is a long sleep, a cool breeze spreading across the room, and no to-do list. One needs complete bed rest to reset.

Alas, in Harper's case, it's impossible.

Her eyelids are puffy. She blinked slower and chugged on her third cup of black coffee. Her focus drifted from Mrs. Tracey to the vibrant purple bloom in the background of a student's room. It grabbed all the attention of the several faces staring back.

Mrs. Tracey asked a question. Someone answered. She asked something else. Another student answered. Harper's shoulders sunk as she wrote what her teacher dictated and the three questions required solving for next Thursday.

Due to online schooling, her tuition class has been postponed from five to seven. She had no time to unwind and even canceled the study session with Steve. On another day, she would have crossed her fingers and waited for his arrival. Today she is squeezing her eyes shut and opening them wide to stay alive. She drank black coffee, long gone cold.

She waited for Mrs. Tracey to speak more, thirty seconds, one minute; come on, end it already. Her limbs shook, finger bouncing up and down on the mouse. And then she bade farewell and hit the fame red button.

Harper let out a huge sigh, closed all tabs, and shut her laptop down at once. The chair toppled backward as she stood to stretch her arms and rolled her neck from side to side. She yawned again.

She pushed the chair back. An urge to jump on her inviting, snuggling bed overtook her mind. It's what she needs the most at the moment.

"Harper, come downstairs," Jenna shouted.

She has been yelling all day long. Like her, Jenna was gloomy too. It's one of those days.

Put your clothes back in the dresser. Would someone pull the clothes from the rack? It's pouring. Harper, wash those dishes. Paul, I can't deal with your stinky socks pushed to the corner anymore. Harry, get those headphones off.

She went on and on, complaining about anything possible today.

Harper noticed it.

Dust, sweet wrappers, hair strands, and small papers have gathered by the side of the walls. Dishes are piling, dirty clothes from Harry as he 'always' forgot to put them in the washing machine. Slippers are scattered. The kitchen bin overflowed. Used ingredients shoved in the first cabinet instead of returning to their regular spot. Lastly, the fridge is a mess of leftovers, bottles, fruits, and vegetables, some of which are starting to go dreadful.

"Green salad now; Steve will arrive at any moment, and Paul too; his business meetings are getting longer nowadays."

"Okay, I'll do it. Mom, please don't fight in front of Steve."

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