Veridis Quo

Chapter 6 - The Files

Life could be a dream, life could be a dreeeeam

Doo-rooo-do-do, sh-boom

A comfort was all around my being, a piece of cotton candy dipped in honey and wrapped in silk. For once, everything was right.

Life could be a dream

No responsibilities, no worries, just me, me, and me. Warmth was present and so was its sibling, but the latter's domain was my face. I sniffed.

Life could be a dream

It had many meanings, an infinite of them to be exact. One's meaning can't be determined by birth, status or destiny. Someone used to tell me, someone close, that it wasn't just about living and dying.

Life could be a dream

It was precious, but it had a price. And sometimes the journey matters as much as the destination, for the path shapes the way to its end. It wasn't the time for complex thought, the-

Life could be a dream, sweetheaaaaart

The alarm clock awoke as well, eliminating any chance of returning to the sweet embrace of rest. Humming, a hand snuck out of the blanket to the electronic, gliding over the plastic surface to find the deactivation button atop. Once the beeping stopped, the arm returned to base, mission success.

Even if I couldn't lose my consciousness, it didn't mean I had to get up just yet. Hugging myself with the thick blanket, I shuddered as the cold caught up. The air conditioner has worked all night long. I wasn't paying the electric bill so I didn't give it much thought. Perhaps I should turn it off before I catch a cold, it wasn't the season for that.

Sending out the hand for another mission, I searched in the dark for the remote, yawning loudly for no one. Once my fingers pressed against silicone, I wrapped them around and brought the remote close to my face. Squinting, I remembered the power button being in the center. I pressed it.

With a beep, the cool air ceased invading my room. I had to get up before it warmed up. Reluctantly pushing the covers off, I sat up on the bed, scratching my chest as I yawned again. "Uhh... mmm..." Licking my teeth, I was struck by a touch of disgust. Yup, no more sleepy, time for the triple S routine.

Moving my feet in the air until I found the appropriate wear, I slipped on the kroks, leaving the haven on lazy knees. Rubbing my closed eyes, I blinked slowly, the crust in the corners hindering my useless vision. Beside the display on the AC and the horizontal sliver beneath the door to the outside, I was as blind as a bat, though not literally.

Working off muscle memory, I dragged my feet over to the other door, the cute rubber slippers resembling the head of a crocodile squeaking with every step. My hand wobbled towards the handle, the weight of my arm unlocking the mechanism. Pushing open the door, I flipped on the switch to the right, a glaring white blinding me.

Covering my eyes, I waited for them to adjust, visualizing the process for the morning. Usually, I didn't shave my face, baby genes, but today was a special day. Mainly, the hairs irritated me the night before. Lowering the hand, I trudged into the tiled room.

In front was a shower from wall to wall, a glass sliding door fogged for privacy. To the left was the toilet and the right had the sink with all the necessities. Reaching for the handle behind me, I closed the door. I ran a hand through my hair. Oily. Locking the door with the cleaner hand, I began.

The first S was self-explanatory, the flush went down the drain with the rest. Washing my hands, I then brushed my teeth. A bit of toothpaste was enough, half of the length of the brush itself, the commercials lied, shocker! For some reason, not many dentists tell patients how to actually clean their teeth. Flossing is important before sleep, hence the coiled plastic wire sitting beside the cup that held the brush and paste. Never forget the gums are just as important as the teeth.