Before My Eyes

The Roof

My toes barely touch the ground as I swing my legs over the edge of the bed. An unexpected rush of cool breeze smothers me. I look behind me to see a muscular torso splayed out on the white-sheeted bed. The autumn dawn streaks streams of light across the room through the high window. I look around and suddenly jump. I forgot he would have a roommate.

I pray it's no one I know; maybe a new boy? However, as the wrapped up figure on the opposite bed rolls over I immediately recognise his face. Raffi.

I need to leave. Sliding off the frame, I check the small clock on his bedside table. 6:15am. Breakfast starts at 8am, which leaves me 5 minutes to get back to my dorm without anyone seeing in order to have a whole hour's sleep. I feel a dizzy wave of the remains of last night's alcohol, so I quickly replace his loose tee with my trackies and jumper. I manage to glance in his small mirror before my departure. My dark hair is entwined with knotted braids from yesterday and my black eyeliner has smudged down my cheeks.

Paying no attention to the unconscious body half hidden in the duvet, which I had just slept under, I pull up the desk chair to beneath the window. I hesitate in order to test it's balance before fluently stepping onto the seat, opening the window and climbing out onto the slate roof.

I'd made note of his dorm number the night before, as always, so I can easily find where the window of my room is. I tied a red scrunchie to the latch on the first night of the year and I spot it almost immediately. I begin to stumble across the paving as fast as I can.

When I gently close the window of dorm 227, my room mate, Alex's, eyes flutter open. 'Amalia? Why are you up so early?' She croaks. I shush her and slip under the sheets in hopes of getting that hour's sleep. I realise that's not going to happen.

'Have you been out? Again?!' Alex's expression is a mixture of shock ad disappointment. 'Seriously, Mali, one of these days a teacher will find you in the boys' dorms and then you'll see the mistake you're making.' In this case, like most, it's quite nice having a second mum at boarding school.

I groan and rub my eyes. 'Can we not talk later, Alex?' She has persisted like this every morning since the beginning of term.

'Fine...' she moans and I sink into my bed with relief.