The alarm blared up, filling in the melancholy silence of the night as Ari slowly opened her heavy eyelids, looking over to the clock on the wall ticking.
2 AM
"What?! No, not again!" She sat up, harshly rubbing her face as she groaned. It was just getting worse every week. The meds don't seem to be making it any better.
She pulled on her glasses and hoodie, walking out of the apartments as she sighed.
Everyone liked to sleep but, she dreaded it even though she couldn't avoid it.
She doesn't remember since when she was diagnosed with this problem but, if she falls asleep, she might wake up only after 24 hours or more.
The night was still cold as the street lamps lit the way up. The street dogs ruled the streets as the moon and stars did the same for the sky.
The park she visited every day was very quiet as she trodded through the garden in the front and then to the benches placed on the back.
But, that's when she heard a faint voice singing through the thickness of the silence soothingly. It was a boy- a little older than her.
'Remember the way you made me feel? Such young love but,
Something in me knew that it was real.
Frozen in my head~'
She walked a little more closely to see a cotton candy shop open with a boy cleaning the main desk, humming and singing out loud.
Was he having a night shift? But, who buys cotton candy at night?
As the clock in the park hit 2:30, he closed the shop up, removing his apron, and walked back to the other way without even closing the shop properly.
As she stared at his disappearing voice, she walked back to her way, the street lamps flickering a little as the trees swayed along with the wind.
__ _ _ _
Ari opened her eyes wide as she tried to not fall asleep in the hospital's lobby. It was just too boring to be surrounded by old people who kept throwing weird looks at her.
As she was called out, she jerked a little before jumping up and walking to the doctor.
"Hey. Ari, right?" He smiled to make her feel at ease as he grabbed her report paper but, the smile was replaced by a frown.
"Uh... Are you taking your medicines on time?"
"Yes, I am. But, doc, they don't seem to be working- is it getting worse?"
He sighed before removing his glasses and looked right into her eyes. "You know, only eating meds won't help. You have to do other things for it to work!"
"Um... Like what?"
He groaned, shutting her report off as she winced a little. "You have to have a calm mind. Take a rest and stop stressing. Try meditating and doing yoga- relax your flipping self!"
The door opened to a nurse who blinked at the doctor and the patient. "I-is something wrong?"
"No, no. You can go. I really hope Miss Ari would be perfectly fine the next time I meet her. Right?"
He glared at her with a smile as she nodded with a fake smile before standing up and leaving the hospital with a bow.
_ _ _ _ _
But, guess what? Destiny hates her guts. She walked down the same path at night as she screamed out into the darkness. It wasn't helping- nothing was.
All she thought at that moment was to hear that mysterious boy's voice. So, expecting him to be there, she made her way to the place she saw the cotton candy shop to find... nothing.
She groaned- her last hope of spending the night peacefully went down the drain. She walked even further-a little far from the apartments to come across a 24/7 convenience store.
A cup of coffee might help. Or maybe not.
She walked in looking like a zombie as she heard a familiar voiced laugh circulating in the air.
There, she saw the mysterious singer again behind the reception counter on the other aisle laughing with a girl about her age.
"Uh, excuse me? Does he work here?"
The man at the counter she stood at turned around. "Um, no. He works here just out of boredom. I don't know why. But, miss, would you like to buy something?"
"Out of boredom? At midnight? Uh, yeah sure. A cup of coffee, please."
"A cup of coffee at midnight?" He whispered as he moved to the machine, her eyes were still on him and how handsome he looked even after the presence of dark circles around his eyes.
"Here, mam." The man handed the cup as she groaned.
"Couldn't you have been a little late?"
'Mam, we're trying to get done and leave home. Now, please leave."
He ushered her out of the shop and turned away as she sighed. The night was just getting colder and colder.
Guess she has to go back home and try to keep herself awake.
_ _ _ _ _
She smiled at her reflection in the mirror as she blew it a kiss. This time surprisingly even though she fell asleep the previous night, she woke up pretty early.
It was time to treat herself to some good-tier breakfast.
As she opened her door, she saw a mailman banging on the door opposite to hers.
"Sir? Are you there? You have a courier!"
"What's wrong?"
The man faced her with a bow first and then handed the box to her. "This belongs to the man living in room 19. If you see him, please hand it over. Thank you."
"Wait- what?" Before shecould question, the man had already climbed down the stairs, leaving her with the box.
'Looks like I have to work with cereals today..."
_ _ _ _ _
As she sat against her door, nearly dozing off, she heard a loud sound of something falling that caused her to turn alert. It was actually from the other door.
Maybe the resident was here.
She arranged herself before opening the door to see a man with jet black hair trying to fix the doorknob that he had just broken. He was muttering curses as she winced, trying to un-hear them.
"Uh, sir? Are you living in room 19? I guess this is-"
As the boy turned over, she had her mouth hanging. It was the same boy she met at the park and at the convenience store and he was a much more good-looking closeup. His dark and tired eyes were clear too.
"Yes, I live here. Thank you for having this."
His voice was deeper than she ever thought as he passed her a smile and walked back in.
"Uh... Sir? Do you want some soup? You seem tired."
He looked back and smiled widely before nodding like a kid.
_ _ _ _ _
"So, Mark, what were you doing at the cotton candy shop at night?" The boy- whose name she figured was 'Mark' placed down the now-empty bowl of soup as he cleaned his lips on a tissue.
"I actually can't fall asleep. So, it was just a time pass. That was my friend's shop."
"Oh? You could listen to lullabies and fall asleep! They work way too well."
"You can sing me to sleep then!" He moved closer before messing her hair up. She was kinda surprised by the way he had gotten so close to her that too within such a short span of time.
She blushed a little before coveringher face. "You're too shy, Ari. It's cute! By the way, what were you doing at the mark at such a late hour?"
She blinked with her mouth parted. "I-I was looking for some inspiration for the story I was writing."
He awed at her before humming. "I bet it'll be amazing... Anyways, are gonna sing for me or not?"
_ _ _ _ _
"Ari, wake up! It's so late!"
Mark gently shook her sides as she stirred a little with a moan as was soon pushed to the floor from the couch she was asleep on.
"What the f-"
She looked around the house and to the man who had his hand on his hips with a frown. "Mark? What are you doing here?"
"Miss, I guess you were putting me to sleep but, fell asleep yourself. Damn, you're one heavy sleeper. It's 12 AM already."
She opened her eyes wide and sat up straight, pushing her hair back as she groaned. "What's wrong, Ari?"
"Should I be honest with you?"
_ _ _ _ _
"Ah... Opposites."
"What?"
"We're opposites- you and me."
She stared at Mark's side profile as he looked up to the moon in the sky. The wind chimes on the balcony's ceiling made pleasant sounds each time the wind blew, making the two people there await it.
"What do you mean?"
"I wish I could sleep whereas you don't wanna sleep."
"Wait- don't tell me..."
"Yep. I have Insomnia."
She gasped a little before feeling sorry for him but, she soon frowned. "You wouldn't want to sleep forever though."
"You wouldn't want to stay up forever either. You'll understand it only when you experience it."
"Hey... Why don't we help each other?"...
_ _ _ _ _
“Mate? You in there?”
Mark pushed away his chair as he stood up to open the door. His face lit up as soon he saw the person standing there.
“God… Look atyou. At least try a little to sleep.”
And he did look at himself in the mirror- The dark circles were just getting darker as his face didn’t have to glow it had years ago. He still managed to break a smile at her.
“By the way, what are you doing here?”
“I’m going to a party tonight but I guess you need sleep. Bye.”
As she walked away, she was pulled back by the wrist as she stumbled a little. “A party?! Seriously, how can you leave me behind? Hell yeah, I’m coming!”
_ _ _ _ _
The elevator dinged as the metal doors slid open. Mark slowly walked the hallways as his other arm was wrapped around Ari’s waist- she was half asleep.
“It was a damn party with blasting music. How did you fall asleep?”
“I don’t know…”
As he reached her door he slightly shook her but, she was completely unconscious. “What’s the password? You wanna stay in my room tonight?”
No reply.
As he opened his door, he was suddenly pushed to the wall as Ari trapped him between his arms. His heartbeat nearly stopped as he focused on the little space left between them.
“Hey, a-are you drunk?”
Before he could even expect a reply, he felt her soft lips on his, hungrily her hands grabbed his shoulders as his eyes widened.
It felt weird but good and for the first time, he felt the need to close his eyes. Something that wasn’t supposed to happen, happened that night.
“It’s just you and me…”
_ _ _ _ _
"That's what you said, Ari. You said we'd help each other but, you broke the promise first. Or maybe, I did. Now, I can never wake you up from your eternal sleep. This world is so cruel- why do people like you who deserve to live be picked up early. Ithought we had a good future ahead- it was all just dreams even though I couldn't sleep without you by my side."
The raindrops hit the gravestone harder as Mark's tears were camouflaged. It didn't make it any better- he wanted her by his side, to listen to her voice even though he couldn't sleep, and maybe even stare at her sleeping in his arms.
It all ended in vain. Destiny has a very bad heart.
The rain just turned harder with thunder rolling in as he screamed out. "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! PLEASE COME BACK!"
He knelt to the ground, placing his head over the stone as he gave up on everything. He put his hands into his pockets, pulling out his medicines as he threw them far away.
"I'll come to you. We can be together. No one would judge. We can be out of people's venomous eyes. Wait for me..." He whispered as he slowly closed his eyes, the rain never stopping as a slight voice whispered back soothingly into his ears making him smile through the pain.
"It's you and me."
THE END - - - - -
2 AM
"What?! No, not again!" She sat up, harshly rubbing her face as she groaned. It was just getting worse every week. The meds don't seem to be making it any better.
She pulled on her glasses and hoodie, walking out of the apartments as she sighed.
Everyone liked to sleep but, she dreaded it even though she couldn't avoid it.
She doesn't remember since when she was diagnosed with this problem but, if she falls asleep, she might wake up only after 24 hours or more.
The night was still cold as the street lamps lit the way up. The street dogs ruled the streets as the moon and stars did the same for the sky.
The park she visited every day was very quiet as she trodded through the garden in the front and then to the benches placed on the back.
But, that's when she heard a faint voice singing through the thickness of the silence soothingly. It was a boy- a little older than her.
'Remember the way you made me feel? Such young love but,
Something in me knew that it was real.
Frozen in my head~'
She walked a little more closely to see a cotton candy shop open with a boy cleaning the main desk, humming and singing out loud.
Was he having a night shift? But, who buys cotton candy at night?
As the clock in the park hit 2:30, he closed the shop up, removing his apron, and walked back to the other way without even closing the shop properly.
As she stared at his disappearing voice, she walked back to her way, the street lamps flickering a little as the trees swayed along with the wind.
__ _ _ _
Ari opened her eyes wide as she tried to not fall asleep in the hospital's lobby. It was just too boring to be surrounded by old people who kept throwing weird looks at her.
As she was called out, she jerked a little before jumping up and walking to the doctor.
"Hey. Ari, right?" He smiled to make her feel at ease as he grabbed her report paper but, the smile was replaced by a frown.
"Uh... Are you taking your medicines on time?"
"Yes, I am. But, doc, they don't seem to be working- is it getting worse?"
He sighed before removing his glasses and looked right into her eyes. "You know, only eating meds won't help. You have to do other things for it to work!"
"Um... Like what?"
He groaned, shutting her report off as she winced a little. "You have to have a calm mind. Take a rest and stop stressing. Try meditating and doing yoga- relax your flipping self!"
The door opened to a nurse who blinked at the doctor and the patient. "I-is something wrong?"
"No, no. You can go. I really hope Miss Ari would be perfectly fine the next time I meet her. Right?"
He glared at her with a smile as she nodded with a fake smile before standing up and leaving the hospital with a bow.
_ _ _ _ _
But, guess what? Destiny hates her guts. She walked down the same path at night as she screamed out into the darkness. It wasn't helping- nothing was.
All she thought at that moment was to hear that mysterious boy's voice. So, expecting him to be there, she made her way to the place she saw the cotton candy shop to find... nothing.
She groaned- her last hope of spending the night peacefully went down the drain. She walked even further-a little far from the apartments to come across a 24/7 convenience store.
A cup of coffee might help. Or maybe not.
She walked in looking like a zombie as she heard a familiar voiced laugh circulating in the air.
There, she saw the mysterious singer again behind the reception counter on the other aisle laughing with a girl about her age.
"Uh, excuse me? Does he work here?"
The man at the counter she stood at turned around. "Um, no. He works here just out of boredom. I don't know why. But, miss, would you like to buy something?"
"Out of boredom? At midnight? Uh, yeah sure. A cup of coffee, please."
"A cup of coffee at midnight?" He whispered as he moved to the machine, her eyes were still on him and how handsome he looked even after the presence of dark circles around his eyes.
"Here, mam." The man handed the cup as she groaned.
"Couldn't you have been a little late?"
'Mam, we're trying to get done and leave home. Now, please leave."
He ushered her out of the shop and turned away as she sighed. The night was just getting colder and colder.
Guess she has to go back home and try to keep herself awake.
_ _ _ _ _
She smiled at her reflection in the mirror as she blew it a kiss. This time surprisingly even though she fell asleep the previous night, she woke up pretty early.
It was time to treat herself to some good-tier breakfast.
As she opened her door, she saw a mailman banging on the door opposite to hers.
"Sir? Are you there? You have a courier!"
"What's wrong?"
The man faced her with a bow first and then handed the box to her. "This belongs to the man living in room 19. If you see him, please hand it over. Thank you."
"Wait- what?" Before shecould question, the man had already climbed down the stairs, leaving her with the box.
'Looks like I have to work with cereals today..."
_ _ _ _ _
As she sat against her door, nearly dozing off, she heard a loud sound of something falling that caused her to turn alert. It was actually from the other door.
Maybe the resident was here.
She arranged herself before opening the door to see a man with jet black hair trying to fix the doorknob that he had just broken. He was muttering curses as she winced, trying to un-hear them.
"Uh, sir? Are you living in room 19? I guess this is-"
As the boy turned over, she had her mouth hanging. It was the same boy she met at the park and at the convenience store and he was a much more good-looking closeup. His dark and tired eyes were clear too.
"Yes, I live here. Thank you for having this."
His voice was deeper than she ever thought as he passed her a smile and walked back in.
"Uh... Sir? Do you want some soup? You seem tired."
He looked back and smiled widely before nodding like a kid.
_ _ _ _ _
"So, Mark, what were you doing at the cotton candy shop at night?" The boy- whose name she figured was 'Mark' placed down the now-empty bowl of soup as he cleaned his lips on a tissue.
"I actually can't fall asleep. So, it was just a time pass. That was my friend's shop."
"Oh? You could listen to lullabies and fall asleep! They work way too well."
"You can sing me to sleep then!" He moved closer before messing her hair up. She was kinda surprised by the way he had gotten so close to her that too within such a short span of time.
She blushed a little before coveringher face. "You're too shy, Ari. It's cute! By the way, what were you doing at the mark at such a late hour?"
She blinked with her mouth parted. "I-I was looking for some inspiration for the story I was writing."
He awed at her before humming. "I bet it'll be amazing... Anyways, are gonna sing for me or not?"
_ _ _ _ _
"Ari, wake up! It's so late!"
Mark gently shook her sides as she stirred a little with a moan as was soon pushed to the floor from the couch she was asleep on.
"What the f-"
She looked around the house and to the man who had his hand on his hips with a frown. "Mark? What are you doing here?"
"Miss, I guess you were putting me to sleep but, fell asleep yourself. Damn, you're one heavy sleeper. It's 12 AM already."
She opened her eyes wide and sat up straight, pushing her hair back as she groaned. "What's wrong, Ari?"
"Should I be honest with you?"
_ _ _ _ _
"Ah... Opposites."
"What?"
"We're opposites- you and me."
She stared at Mark's side profile as he looked up to the moon in the sky. The wind chimes on the balcony's ceiling made pleasant sounds each time the wind blew, making the two people there await it.
"What do you mean?"
"I wish I could sleep whereas you don't wanna sleep."
"Wait- don't tell me..."
"Yep. I have Insomnia."
She gasped a little before feeling sorry for him but, she soon frowned. "You wouldn't want to sleep forever though."
"You wouldn't want to stay up forever either. You'll understand it only when you experience it."
"Hey... Why don't we help each other?"...
_ _ _ _ _
“Mate? You in there?”
Mark pushed away his chair as he stood up to open the door. His face lit up as soon he saw the person standing there.
“God… Look atyou. At least try a little to sleep.”
And he did look at himself in the mirror- The dark circles were just getting darker as his face didn’t have to glow it had years ago. He still managed to break a smile at her.
“By the way, what are you doing here?”
“I’m going to a party tonight but I guess you need sleep. Bye.”
As she walked away, she was pulled back by the wrist as she stumbled a little. “A party?! Seriously, how can you leave me behind? Hell yeah, I’m coming!”
_ _ _ _ _
The elevator dinged as the metal doors slid open. Mark slowly walked the hallways as his other arm was wrapped around Ari’s waist- she was half asleep.
“It was a damn party with blasting music. How did you fall asleep?”
“I don’t know…”
As he reached her door he slightly shook her but, she was completely unconscious. “What’s the password? You wanna stay in my room tonight?”
No reply.
As he opened his door, he was suddenly pushed to the wall as Ari trapped him between his arms. His heartbeat nearly stopped as he focused on the little space left between them.
“Hey, a-are you drunk?”
Before he could even expect a reply, he felt her soft lips on his, hungrily her hands grabbed his shoulders as his eyes widened.
It felt weird but good and for the first time, he felt the need to close his eyes. Something that wasn’t supposed to happen, happened that night.
“It’s just you and me…”
_ _ _ _ _
"That's what you said, Ari. You said we'd help each other but, you broke the promise first. Or maybe, I did. Now, I can never wake you up from your eternal sleep. This world is so cruel- why do people like you who deserve to live be picked up early. Ithought we had a good future ahead- it was all just dreams even though I couldn't sleep without you by my side."
The raindrops hit the gravestone harder as Mark's tears were camouflaged. It didn't make it any better- he wanted her by his side, to listen to her voice even though he couldn't sleep, and maybe even stare at her sleeping in his arms.
It all ended in vain. Destiny has a very bad heart.
The rain just turned harder with thunder rolling in as he screamed out. "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! PLEASE COME BACK!"
He knelt to the ground, placing his head over the stone as he gave up on everything. He put his hands into his pockets, pulling out his medicines as he threw them far away.
"I'll come to you. We can be together. No one would judge. We can be out of people's venomous eyes. Wait for me..." He whispered as he slowly closed his eyes, the rain never stopping as a slight voice whispered back soothingly into his ears making him smile through the pain.
"It's you and me."
THE END - - - - -
Support Shivani Ramachandran
