...

Feels like the walls are closing in even when nothing moves. That stare could be anything but it's probably something bad. Why is it something bad? Well, when has it been anything good? The last one gave up on you, the ones close to you eye you like dogshit or a ticking bomb, and just by sitting still and rubbing your eye things get worse. You dreamed of an empty house and here it finally is. There's nothing but the thrum of a fan that hides things moving at the edge of your senses, covering up almost unheard thumps that could be people testing the windows and doors. Of course you leave your seat, knees hurting, shoulders hurting, and check the doors and the windows - nothing.

Everything is misaligned inside and out. Bones snap against their sockets, ligaments complain even when they've got nothing to do, and eyes become bloodshot and alarmingly red. Waking up in the middle of the night is enough to waste a day, you aren't going back to sleep afterwards. There's heat, ants trying to drink your sweat, and the knowledge that when you get up you are one more day behind everyone else.

An empty house or a burning house, an empty house or a full one with all the mess that entails? Go to bed and call it a day.