In Her Own Footsteps

IX

A loud and clear ringing, similar to the sound of a bell, resonated from under Connor's pillow for the fifth time in an hour. Aanya groaned as she shook Connor, urging him to silence the alarm from his phone. He snoozed it. The sun had just risen on that Saturday morning, gently casting a soft light on the blinds. In ten more minutes, it would be 7:30 AM. The alarm would ring again, signaling Connor to wake up so he could get ready for work.

When it came to sleep, Aanya and Connor were polar opposites. Aanya had heard Connor's alarm from the first ring. She had been awake since, desperate to rest her eyes a little longer. Connor was still in deep sleep, induced the night before by his bipolar medication. While Aanya sometimes envied Connor for his undisturbed sleep, Connor detested being dependent on drug-induced sleep.

The alarm rang for the sixth time. Aanya shook Connor a little harder as the alarm rang.

"Conny, it's 7:30. You need to get ready to leave in fifteen minutes." She urged her, panicking slightly.

Aanya remembered when a few years ago Connor had lost his job for missing an early shift because he was not able to wake up. His current job had been going so well. It had been his longest period of employment in years. Aanya took it upon herself to be his internal clock so he could be on time.

"I know," Connor answered started, a tone of annoyance lingering behind his words.

In a more single movement, Connor removed the blanket that cradled his shirtless body and jumped out of bed. He grabbed his phone from under the pillow to permanently silence the repeating alarm clock. He let out a long sigh, his facial expression disgruntled, as he reached for the ACME-branded polo shirt from the dresser.

Aanya knew not to say anything. The previous morning was the same. Aanya asked Connor why he just does not take the medicine earlier at night so he can get enough sleep. His answer was that he tried doing so for ten years, from when he was in middle school, high school, and briefly in college. He would sleep at 8 PM every night to get enough sleep but his medicine still made him feel groggy and exhausted for hours in the day. Connor's bipolar prescription kept him mostly in control of his emotions while also keeping him prisoner. It made his life harder than average. He considered requesting to be put exclusively on night shift, but did not, out of fear that his hours would be cut.

Aanya felt selfish for secretly being glad that Connor was being scheduled for the morning shift. For their relationship, it meant spending extra time together. When Connor worked the night shift, they would barely spend two hours together in a day. He would wake up an hour before his four o'clock shift and return home two hours before Aanya's bedtime. With the new schedule, Connor would be back home before five in the afternoon, giving them an extra five hours to be productive and spend together.

As Connor hastily got ready so he could leave in fifteen minutes, Aanya got out of bed and headed to the kitchen. She also had an early start to the morning. She had a lesson planned with an Australian student. It would begin in 30 minutes. She went to the kitchen to make herself some coffee and put some bread in the toaster for Connor. If Connor was ever to eat breakfast, he needed it to be very light.

"When you are ready, here's some toast with butter on the kitchen counter. It will give you some energy for the day." Aanya announced as she proceeded to make microwavable oatmeal for her own breakfast.

"Okay, thanks!" Connor responded.

Aanya walked back to their bedroom and walked over to Connor's side of the bed. She grabbed his watch and water bottle from the floor. She walked to the living area where Connor stood, packing his bag by his desk.

"Here," said Aanya as she put his belongings on his desk.

"Thank you, baby," said Connor as Aanya walked away. A gentle smile formed on Aanya's face.