Restless Soul

24

Awashed with confusion and crazed by her inability to grasp hold of reality. Amanda tossed and turned for the better half of the night. Calling it better was giving it too much credit. The last five hours consisted of consent switches of position and interrupted sleep if not by her hyperactive imagination, then by the temperature in the room that for some strange reason felt a lot warmer than normal.

  After another failed attempt to get some rest, Amanda threw her legs off the edge of the bed, pausing only to check the time on her digital clock. In bright red appeared the number 05:38.

There was something eerily familiar about them, and though annoyed to still be awake at this late hour, she stared at the last three numbers individually, as if compelled by the formation until the thirty-eight turned into thirty-nine.

With a groan, she blinked before her frustration with herself carried her out of bed.

In such times, she hoped the change of scenery provided by the roof-top view would at least serve to remedy her mental unrest. Upon opening the door of the dusty old room, any chance of her night... morning improving, vanished. Blowing out a cloud of smoke through his nose, Matt stared out at the early sunrise enlightening his face. The blue light of his headset flickered rapidly as he subtly bopped his head to the unknown rhythm.

Stepping back to close the door, he must've sensed her presence. In an instant, his head jerked in her direction and he visibly tensed. Hadn't it been for the fact that they hadn't exchanged a word in weeks, the situation would've been less awkward. But given Amanda's annoyed expression with a hint of confusion in the way her left eyebrow raised slightly, this felt like the long-awaited confrontation Matt knew would eventually occur when he took it upon himself to invade her hideaway.

"What are you... I'll just go," she said, sounding discouraged as she closed the door.

She had no time or the patience to start something they both could afford to avoid.

The cold ceramic beneath her feet awoke her body further, and at this point, it'd be torturous for her to try to go back to sleep.

Through her window peered the first glances of the new day.

Deciding she could use some fresh air, Amanda changed out of her sweaty pajamas, into a pair of black leggings and a plain white shirt. Slipping on her red converse, she clasped around her waist her fanny-pack, put her headset around her neck, and threw on a zip-up jacket before leaving her room.

The cool wind already began working its magic as she went down the hill before pedaling past the quiet houses. It was only a matter of time before the windows would crack open, welcoming the morning, but keeping the laid-back atmosphere that brought with it the weekend.

At last, the stress of the night and the past few days seemed to loosen their grasp on her sanity. Almost humming to the soft melody playing in her ears, Amanda lost herself in the inviting rhythm of Enya's Caribbean Blue.

If all they told was turned to gold

If all you dreamed was new

Imagine the sky high above

In Caribbean blue

Raising her eyes up to the sky, the orange, pink, and light blue streaks stretched far into the horizon. Being outdoors always brought her peace and solace. Watching nature running its course was sometimes hypnotic. Lost in the wide sky, it was all too easy to forget that she was on the road, rather than securely sitting on her roof, leisurely admiring the view.

A car honk in the distance brought her back to earth. Far ahead, a dark green Honda Civic pulled out of a driveway. She instinctively slowed, only now taking in her surroundings, not recognizing this side of town. She maneuvered onto the sidewalk, pausing for a moment to figure out where to go next.