disorientated // irwin

$0

ala winters.

it had been a long january day for ala winters. she'd slipped on ice four times, got her hand stuck to a metal pole and a large pile of snow had fallen off a roof and onto her head, knocking her over and causing the fourth ice fall.

but as she brushed off the snow and headed towards the grimy, crowded apartment she called home, she knew that she could take a semi-warm shower and make some ramen noodles upon her arrival. the thought comforted her. she smiled, closing her eyes whilst trying to imagine the semi-warm water embracing her body.

the moment that the five storey building came into sight, ala began to run. it was freezing cold outside, and her ears were developing frostbite, which was unbearable. again, ala slipped on ice, and for a small moment, she was airborne. as she hit her head on the ice, she let out a loud "ouch."

ala got back up, widely discouraged to continue running: so she walked the rest of the way while cursing at herself because everybody watching likely thought that she was a klutz by now.

with her head down, ala watched as her feet shuffled across the icy snow that had been packed down by the hundreds of pedestrians of whom had walked down these same streets before her. before ala knew it, strong force hit her, and she fell over. as she lay in the snow she closed her eyes.

ala was almost asleep, and it was about five o'clock in the evening when a boy's voice awoke her. "um, are you alright?" the boy seemed afraid as if she were a drug dealer or a part of a gang or dead or whatever. the limit of possibilities did not exist. ala's eyes shot open, and she was automatically uncomfortable. "i'm fine." she said coldly.

ala picked herself up and walked away, giving herself props for the swift exit. in the height of her confidence peak, she slipped and fell over, once again. "fine." she said sternly, arose and began running once again, not giving the ice time to pull her to the ground again.

as she entered the building, she made a beeline to the elevator and ran to her room. as she focused her eyes on what she was seeing, ala let out a gasp and widened her eyes.

because what was sitting on her couch was definitely not supposed to be there.