Genetics and Code

Out of Memory

Music. Loud music. I reach for the source and paw at it until the music stops. My eyes slowly open up to see the ceiling. The fan sits stationary, one of its blades broken entirely off. If not for the moonlight, I would be in complete darkness. I pull back the blankets that hardly cover my legs and look toward the clock. My eyes feel too big for my skull as I shift my gaze. 05:00. Do I have work today? I can't think straight enough to remember. I am assuming I do because my alarm went off. If I'm late one more time, I'll be fired. Seeing as I'm barely scraping by, I heave myself upwards.

The moment I do, all of the weight from last night is lifted with me. I grip the sides of the bed to steady myself and brace my feet on the ground. The room has a gentle spin as I stare at the floor, trying my hardest not to get sick. It felt like the entire world itself was spinning below me. Because my attention is forced onto the ground, I start noticing how messy my entire floor is. Clothes, random electronic cords, and trash nearly completely hid the cream carpet from view. I should clean this place up. When was the last time I even had this burger restaurant? Yesterday was... Hm... Did I eat yesterday..? I think I did, but I don't remember what. Trying to rack my brain about what I have and haven't eaten helps stop the world from spinning. I push myself off the bed and stand.

Once I stand, the weight shifts from my stomach to my head. I stumble through the darkness, stepping on the dirty floor until I collide with the wall. It feels like I have a filing cabinet on my head. I grip the door frame to the closet and look at the clock. 05:45. Forty-five minutes passed..? No, it must be fast. I don't believe that. My eyes still feel as though they don't fit in my head. Every little movement hurts my brain. I still have plenty of time before I need to be at work. I need to take this slow. I slowly use the wall as a guide and move to my work clothes. I shimmy my way through the littered floor, balancing the weight on my head until I reach them. Even in the low light, I could tell this brightly colored uniform is what I need. I gently bend down to grab them with one free hand before moving out of the room.

I never thought I could be thankful for a wall, but I am. I grip the clothes in my hand and continue following it to the living room. I gently maneuver my way around the couch before plopping down on it. I stare at my poor coffee table. Like the floor, it as well is completely covered in trash. I wonder how much the cans in my apartment would sell for? Putting on my uniform doesn't take long. Just a company polo and a company pair of slacks. I didn't think about this until now, but... Is this clean? I inspect it as closely in the dark and decide it would be good enough. I'm finally ready to leave. I just need my shoes. Oh, crap. I need socks too.

I quickly stand up and go to get some socks from my room. I feel much lighter now. I begin rummaging through the floor to find socks that weren't completely dirty. I REALLY need to clean this place up a bit. That way I can actually find everything without rummaging through this pigsty. There we go. I found two socks that are passable. I quickly slip them on my feet and look toward the clock again. 06:10? I might end up being late now. I can skip breakfast and eat later. I stand up to leave and stop. I almost forgot my phone. That would've... Well... I suppose I don't need it. No one but my mom calls me anyway. I'll leave it here. Slipping on my shoes, I leave my apartment.

The cold morning air blindsides me. I should grab my coat- Oh. Right... It got stolen two weeks ago at work... I shove my hands into the thin pockets and start to walk. I hope the metro is a little bit warm. The street is busier than usual today. I wonder if something is going on.

"Step back from the closing doors! Step back from the closing doors!" I look around. Am I on the train already? That felt much faster than normal. Just like how I thought, it's packed. I stuff myself next to a group of people and hold onto the bar. The noise of the train blends together and it falls silent. I stare absentmindedly at two people talking to each other. I'm having trouble deciphering what they're saying... Are they speaking a language I can understand? I'm unable to tell...

"We have reached the end of the... Yellow... Line! Doors open to the left, please step back and allow passengers to depart first..." The PA system startled me as it spoke. I follow everyone else out of the train car, continuing my way to work. I think something is wrong with me. Time is blinking by like nothing. I'm not sure what it is. I thought that I took it easy last night... I can't remember how long I work today...