Grey

Gray

Song is Sound and Color by Alabama Shakes. I strongly suggest watching the music video and paying close attention to the lyrics, which helps give insight to the character's mindset.

Thank you for giving this book a chance!

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156 min and 13 seconds-- approximately . That's how long I've been procrastinating. It isn't necessarily that I don't like or care about school or absolutely abhor homework. It isn't necessarily that I don't have anything to do with my life. It isn't necessarily that I'm a completely lazy person. I just don't feel like doing shit right now.

As I lay in bed, wasting time on endless thoughts, my eyes settle upon the all too familiar painting. Not once has there been a day in which it doesn't stare at me with the same curious eyes I have as I stare back at it. In the room with dull gray walls, the blackness of the painting oddly brings life into my insignificant little life.

Across of my bed, someone had given me the world--literally and figuratively.

The black mural of the earth began with North America hiding in the far left corner of the wall and stretched its way to Australia which rested at the bottom right corner. In the middle, Africa stands tall and proud in the center, although everyone ignores it in reality. Asia dominates the right side of the wall with its magnificent size and taking control of the area. Europe sits arrogantly on top of Africa, and the rest of the world, its immense power overbearing at times. South America, the little sister of Africa, positions herself away from the east, while North America looks down at her. And last and probably the least, comes Antarctica at the bottom. Because honestly, no one gives a shit about Antarctica.

There isn't anything really special about this painting. It's just a mural of the lovely mother earth with all the continents painted black giving a sharp contrast against the soft gray backdrop of the wall. The continents have harsh, pointed, and jagged edges, giving the mural a rough vibe. But no matter how uninteresting it may be to others, it never fails to entertain and humor me. I don't have the money at any means to travel all the world, but with this painting, I have the imagination to travel all the world.

At least that's what I tell myself to make myself feel better.

So yet again, I'm laying flat on my bed staring at a wall for the last 156 min and 13 seconds-- approximately.

My backpack rests on my stomach as a constant reminder for me to start my physics homework and start studying for that AP English test. Logic tells me that I need to get on with this work and stop procrastinating or else I'm going to end up homeless and jobless. But Hunger tells me that I need some cheap, greasy, unhealthy, Chinese shrimp fried rice. And honestly, when Hunger, cheapness, and Chinese food come together in my mind, there's no way that Logic will ever win. Anyways, what's a woman without food?

So with my mind made up, I toss the bag off of my stomach and reach for the small deep green purse sitting on top of the black bedside table. Rummaging through the purse, a ten dollar bill, 5 quarters, some pomegranate chap stick, and gum wrappers fall out adding more clutter to the already messy floors. I quickly take the money, grab my favorite black Adidas zip up jacket, slip on some black Nike's, and rush out the door.

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I wrap my arms tighter around me as the wind pushes even harder against my body. It's getting dark, but not dark enough yet to turn the street lights on. As I turn the corner on the third street, I breathe a small sigh of relief as the small Chinese restaurant comes into my view. Yes, I do have a car--which I'm pretty proud of if I do say so myself-- but I'm not about to waste the little gas money I have left when I can just walk the 10-15 minutes distance to the restaurant.