Reading In Reverse

A love hate relationship

Ever since I was little, I've had a very strong dislike for a certain... thing. We'll call him Bert. Anytime we would go out for breakfast in the morning, Bert would be there, waiting on my bed for me to return. On Saturdays, I had swimming lessons, when I got back from those too, Bert was there, on my bed, waiting for me to return.

I never liked it. I always thought it was a waste of time. I told him I wanted I him to leave me forever but it wouldn't listen. I even told my parents about it, but they just laughed. They told me I needed Bert to survive, that if I went for more than a week without him, I would likely end up insane until I decided to give in.

I told all of my friends at school. They too had Bert in their rooms, waiting silently on their beds when they got back from morning activities. But they said it got worse at night, when their parents tucked them in at night, he would silently creep out of their closet and sit at the foot of their bed. Waiting for the small children. To do what? I don't know.

As I got older, I slowly started to grow a mutual liking for Bert. Anytime I got home from school, he was there as usual, waiting for me on my bed, silently. I had just started high school when I realized I would need Bert all the time. In the morning, at night, even at school. I couldn't get enough. It was almost as if he was a drug waiting for me to become it's next victim. A bit of Bert and then BAM! You're hooked. Who knows for how long. My parents said it would get better with age. That I wouldn't need him after university, but I don't know if I trusted them enough.

When I started the 10th grade, there was a new girl at school. She asked what we did for fun around here. We told her we hung out with Bert after school. She gave us all a confused look and then said, "Oh! You mean sleep? That doesn't seem like much fun."

I thought I would make a twist on our favourite activity to do as a teenager. Sleep. :))) OKOK Hope you enjoyed it!