Chapter One
The steel pot opalescent with overuse burbles on the stove, lifting its silver-rimmed lid with erratic bubbles before spilling down the sides. The water beads dampen the gas-fueled flames as they drip from the bottom of the pot. My lids pulse as I stare at each lick of flame fighting for its place against the liquid warfare.
It’s 6:58 am, and this last-minute decision to make myself a hot cup of chamomile tea only hit me too late. If I go to class at 9 am, that’s one hour of sleep? If I don’t brush my teeth or wash my face, I can make that one and a half hours.
One glance out the window becomes a full immersion in the vision outside–the sunrise cooking the Chicago skyline simmered the silhouetted buildings in a burning orange that was edging into view under the purple and blue hues above it.
The skin that my tanktop isn’t covering prickles. I stroke the hairs on my arms, and the faint, brown hairs erect on the goosebumps like infant trees on their mounds of fresh dirt.
If I just ditch class, I could just stay in all day.
But then the thought of not doing anything, surrounded by my cotton fluff and lazing about while the sun and all its people scattered around the city with their day’s tasks, bothers me a lot. I should just go to class. I can take a nap after my classes.
Yeah. I can just nap after my classes.
Sharp sizzles and the bitter odor of gas bring my attention to the pot’s tantrum on the stove. “Shit!” I turn the stove off, and its flames click to a halt. “Shit shit shit.” I could clean the water now, or save it for my roommates to deal with…
No, I should clean it now. The thought of my mom nagging me pecks my skull as I mop up the mess with a paper towel. With each swipe against the stovetop, my arm soaks the exhaustion every motion brings. God I’m so tired.
Steam slithers around the lip of my mug as I pour the water from the pot in it. The delicate buzz of my phone vibrates twice against the countertop granite next to my cup. I flip my phone around to see a text from my mom. Speak of the devil.
I sent a package of chamomile tea to your apartment
Should be coming today
Ok thank you
Why are you awake
Coludn’t sleep
How long have you been up?
I didn’t sleep
When is your next class?
9
You need to sleep earlier
I’ll try
Do u need anything else
Besides tea?
No that’s it thank you mom
No shampoo or laundry detergent?
No i’ts ok
Food?
I can bring some steaks
I mean if your offering sure lol
I can go down this weekend
I’ll let u know when
Ok thank you
Take a nap after class
Will do
I set my phone down and look at the mug. I forgot to put in the fucking tea bag.
God
DAMMIT.
I’m ripping open the packet when the pulsing of my eyelids pounded harder, I dumped the tea bag into the cup and rushed over to the bathroom. I lean my torso into the mirror and the skin over my right eye engorges with a pulse that thumps increasingly heavily. A finger over my eye doesn’t help to stabilize the thumping.
Maybe I’ll just skip classes today.
Did You Eat Rice? 