Eyes Wide Open

She couldn't sleep. The crisp white sheets crinkled as she moved about in her single bed, eyes wide open. With a sigh, she reached over and turned her lamp on, and light spilled into the room with its pasty yellow walls. Her room was a mess. On her desk were half a dozen unidentifiable bits of paper, most no longer relevant. The chair that sat under her desk was also cluttered. Clean clothes to be put away, then her school skirt, and on top of that, her blazer. On the floor were the pair of jeans she'd regret not washing when Saturday night's party rolled round. On one side of her bed were the books she was supposed to be working her way through for her history assignment. On the other were old magazines and the books she was reading for English - Atonement and Memoirs of a Geisha. She picked up the first and managed to work her way through another chapter. She was too tired to read, but too awake to sleep. It was a terrible cycle she was stuck in.

Maybe some milk would help. She pulled herself out of bed and quietly crept from her room to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, the cool blast only managed to wake her up even more. Silently cursing, she took the milk and poured herself a glass. Drat. This would mean she'd have to brush her teeth again. She really couldn't be bothered. Surely milk wouldn't do that much damage. In fact, it would probably do good, with all that calcium.

She returned to her room and placed the now empty glass by her bed. Finally she could feel sleep coming to her. She turned the light out and settled back into her bed, the sheets crinkling once again. 

She closed her eyes.

But sleep wouldn't come.