A Sky Full of Stars

Unpacking a New Life

Those boxes aren't going to unpack themselves.

I groaned and rolled over.

Just think how nice it will look and you'll feel so accomplished. You like that feeling.

Yes, I do, but I want to sleep more. I feel so comfortable right now.

I grabbed my pillow and buried my head deeper into it. I had recently read a silly article about how not every person has the internal dialogue that I happen to be plagued with. It must be nice to have that, peace. The only time my brain seems to leave me alone is when I'm really preoccupied with something. Music, repetitive games, or a daunting task that I can get into are the keys to have that constant pushing and criticizing go quiet. My therapist called it my "hamster wheel" which I thought was very appropriate.

If you don't get up and take care of those boxes now, you will never finish. Then you'll have boxes everywhere and it'll frustrate you. Your anxiety will get out of control and you'll be stressed with work, school...

Okay! I'm getting up!

I frustratedly rolled over and kicked my blankets off. Staring at the ceiling, I began looking for the will to get out of bed. A yawn crept up from my neck and I reflexively felt my muscles tingle in preparation for a long stretch, which followed in succession from the yawn. The relaxing feeling that resulted from this action did not entice me of achieving my goal of getting out of bed and I moaned in discouragement. During the moan, I felt a familiar sensation on my cheek.

"Morning Frito," I smiled. "Are you hungry boy?" His ears perked up more with a familiar tilt of his head as if he was intrigued by my simple question on the status of his contents of his belly. I rubbed my eyes and pleaded with him to just give me a few more minutes. I felt him scratch at the sheets beside me, signaling that he wanted to go under the covers. "No Bobo, we're getting up soon," I said grumbling, smashing my palms against my cheeks and eyes.

Putting my hands down at my sides, I looked at the light peaking in through my blackout curtains. It was one fo the first things I put up in the apartment when moving in. I knew that I would have been exhausted after everything going on and I wanted to ensure a fitful night's sleep without the morning daylight ruining it. Those curtains were the best investment in my whole life, especially with working late nights, closing at restaurants, as well as the all nighters I would have with my friends. The morning after hangovers were so much better in a dark room quiet room. Frito scratched at the sheets next to me again.

"Okay Bo," I groaned, pushing myself off the bed. "Let's go eat."

I sauntered out of the bedroom, with Frito by my side, and across the hall to the kitchen. I scooped some of his food out and dumped it in his food bowl. He immediately began eating. Putting the scoop back in the bag, I looked around my small kitchen. It contained my small kitchen table, enough for two chairs, which was more than enough for me. I didn't have plans to have any parties or anything in the near future. It was probably adequate enough to eat and study. Behind that was a normal fridge, which didn't contain anything yet, as I had moved in with no perishables, only dried goods. Next to the fridge was a small counter that had a couple of boxes on it. My sink, which thankfully had two compartments, sat under a small window which didn't give much of a view but of the back of another brick apartment building. It at least let some natural light in. There was another small counter next to the sink and beside that, my oven. The whole set up gave a U shape. It was easy for one person to cook a simple meal. I quickly decided that I would quickly put the kitchen away first so I could at least brew myself a cup of coffee later in the day.