SHIFT

I

I abruptly wake up to the screeching of my alarm.

Why did I make it so loud?  I think to myself as I force myself out of my bed, having difficulty doing so. The alarm was so loud to me that I couldn't bring myself to get up and shut it off due to how much pain I was in.

The time on my alarm clock read 5:13 AM. It took me that long to force myself to get up? It usually takes me a little bit to clear my head some, but this is the longest it's taken me to overcome how loud that alarm clock is. It must be because there's something more important on my mind......well, in my opinion.

A lot of people find it to be more geared towards younger kids, but our town has a fair during one weekend every year and I personally think it's really fun going every year. My parents used to take me there every year when I was younger, but they soon stopped taking me once they thought I had grown out of going. They seemed surprised that I was still interested, so I have just been going on my own with a group of a couple of friends. It's become a tradition of ours, but I really hope they don't feel like I'm dragging them along with me. 

It's supposed to start after school today, so I was really excited about it all of last night. I was so excited I couldn't fall asleep...........maybe that's why I had my alarm set so early. In case I fell asleep and didn't wake up in time.

After I had finally got up and turned off the horrid screeching that is my alarm, a different sound continued. The sound of rain against my window. I look outside the window to see a drizzle starting to pick up. Hopefully it stops by this afternoon, I wouldn't want to go to the fair in pouring rain.

There's no time to dwell on that now. I have to get ready to leave.

Speaking of traditions, I have another tradition with Ruby, who's one of my greatest friends. Their situation at their house is......a little unstable, to the point where they aren't usually able to eat regularly. So I've been taking them to this one little cafe that's across from where I live. After I explained their situation, one of the workers there seems okay with us coming there almost every morning before they open. I've also been bringing extra food with me during lunch for them.

I finally leave my room and quietly head into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. I turn the light on, bracing for the familiar bit of pain that comes with getting used to brighter lights in the morning. It takes my eyes a few seconds to get used to the sudden shift in light.

Once my eyes adjust, I look into the mirror at myself, pushing my long and messy hair out of the way.  I start to brush it out so it'll stay. My mom always tells me I need to get it cut a lot shorter, but I like to keep it long. It feels nice that way, even if it does get a bit hot sometimes during the summer. I've gotten used to it though.

After taking around 20 minutes to get myself ready to leave, I pull my sweater over my head, grab my glasses off the table, and sling my bag over my shoulders. People also seem to be confused on how I'm able to wear a sweater in the middle of May, but again, it's just something I've gotten used to. It feels nice to wear it.

I check for rain one last time before leaving and grab the umbrella close to our door on my way out. I lock the door of our apartment and run down the stairs, out of the building. It's still drizzling once I get outside. I open the umbrella I brought with me, hoping I don't break it as I open it. I once did that in the pouring rain and had to carry the top of it separately while also getting soaked.

Behind the parking lot that's behind our apartment building is an empty field, and across that is the area behind where Ruby lives. There's a somewhat tall fence around the back of their little house, but it seems that they've found ways over it (some end in them usually getting hurt). It seems that's something they're used to as well.