wake-up call
M. Alyssa Van Cleef
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Beep! Beep! Beep!
I wake up to that familiar sound with a jolt. I turn over and flip the light switch, illuminating
my boring room. My dresser is a dull gray, a color shared by everything else in here. Everything
except a bright red scarf wrapped around the handle of my closet door. I don’t know where it
came from, but it is always there. Every morning. Sitting up from my bed, I look away from the
anomaly and get dressed.
I wake up to that familiar sound with a jolt. I turn over and flip the light switch, illuminating
my boring room. My dresser is a dull gray, a color shared by everything else in here. Everything
except a bright red scarf wrapped around the handle of my closet door. I don’t know where it
came from, but it is always there. Every morning. Sitting up from my bed, I look away from the
anomaly and get dressed.
My work day is the same as it always is. I arrive a few minutes early and get to my office.
I sign into my computer and check my email. I work on an assignment that was given to me as
soon as I walked in. I finish that and go to lunch, eating by myself in the cafeteria. I do this all by
choice. The invitation to sit with my fellow employees has been given multiple times but I still
ignore it. After this I go and work on another project before heading home. There I sit and eat
dinner, before lying in bed and falling asleep. There is no real change in my routine. I have
found comfort in the numbness of it all.
I sign into my computer and check my email. I work on an assignment that was given to me as
soon as I walked in. I finish that and go to lunch, eating by myself in the cafeteria. I do this all by
choice. The invitation to sit with my fellow employees has been given multiple times but I still
ignore it. After this I go and work on another project before heading home. There I sit and eat
dinner, before lying in bed and falling asleep. There is no real change in my routine. I have
found comfort in the numbness of it all.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Again, I wake up and flip on my light switch. Again, my eyes catch onto the red scarf. I
can faintly hear a laugh echo through the room. It sounds so familiar but I can’t place where I’ve
heard it before. As soon as it came, it was gone again. I must have been imagining it, so I
continue my schedule. I get up, get dressed and head to work.
Again, I wake up and flip on my light switch. Again, my eyes catch onto the red scarf. I
can faintly hear a laugh echo through the room. It sounds so familiar but I can’t place where I’ve
heard it before. As soon as it came, it was gone again. I must have been imagining it, so I
continue my schedule. I get up, get dressed and head to work.
I arrive at work, sign into my computer, and check my email. I work on a project I was
given as soon as I arrived. I finish that and go to the cafeteria. When I arrive I eat by myself and
ignore my coworker’s shout for me to sit with them. I eat my lunch in silence before I head back
to my office to work on another assignment. I pack up and head home, where I eat dinner and
go to bed. It’s the same as every other day.
given as soon as I arrived. I finish that and go to the cafeteria. When I arrive I eat by myself and
ignore my coworker’s shout for me to sit with them. I eat my lunch in silence before I head back
to my office to work on another assignment. I pack up and head home, where I eat dinner and
go to bed. It’s the same as every other day.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The sound jolts me awake. As I turn on the lights I look down at my gray sheets, before
looking around the room. The bright red scarf sits innocently around my closet door handle. I’m
startled by a voice calling my name. Who’s voice is it? Why do I know it? My heart aches at the
sound of it. Suddenly, the room is quiet again. I get dressed and head to work.
The sound jolts me awake. As I turn on the lights I look down at my gray sheets, before
looking around the room. The bright red scarf sits innocently around my closet door handle. I’m
startled by a voice calling my name. Who’s voice is it? Why do I know it? My heart aches at the
sound of it. Suddenly, the room is quiet again. I get dressed and head to work.
I arrive a little early and head to my office. I check my email. I finish an assignment that
was out on my desk when I arrived. I go to lunch and ignore my coworkers. I work on another
project. I go home and eat dinner. I lay in bed until I fall asleep. It never changes, I can’t
remember a time before this.
was out on my desk when I arrived. I go to lunch and ignore my coworkers. I work on another
project. I go home and eat dinner. I lay in bed until I fall asleep. It never changes, I can’t
remember a time before this.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
I turn on my lights.
“Morning Hun.” A sweet woman’s voice fills the room. I turn and smile at her.
“Hey sweetie. How long have you been up?” I ask her.
“Too long. I wish that I had prepared myself for the fact that this baby won’t let me
sleep.” She looks tired. Although I can’t make out most of her features, she seems to carry it on
her whole body. She also looks very pregnant.
I turn on my lights.
“Morning Hun.” A sweet woman’s voice fills the room. I turn and smile at her.
“Hey sweetie. How long have you been up?” I ask her.
“Too long. I wish that I had prepared myself for the fact that this baby won’t let me
sleep.” She looks tired. Although I can’t make out most of her features, she seems to carry it on
her whole body. She also looks very pregnant.
I grimace a little. “We probably should have thought about that before all this.”
“Nah, I wouldn’t trade this for anything.” She says with a soft smile. She stands from
where she was sitting on the bed and reaches over to the closet door. The bright scarf hangs
there tied to the handle. Her delicate fingers quickly untie it and wrap it around her neck. She
crosses the room back over to the bed and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Nah, I wouldn’t trade this for anything.” She says with a soft smile. She stands from
where she was sitting on the bed and reaches over to the closet door. The bright scarf hangs
there tied to the handle. Her delicate fingers quickly untie it and wrap it around her neck. She
crosses the room back over to the bed and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I’ll see you later hun.” She says as she leaves the room.
My heart hurts seeing her leave. My eyes fill with tears so fast I can’t stop their escape.
She can’t leave, I can’t let her leave. I try to rush out of bed but find myself unable to move. I
have to do something. I can’t let her get hurt-
My heart hurts seeing her leave. My eyes fill with tears so fast I can’t stop their escape.
She can’t leave, I can’t let her leave. I try to rush out of bed but find myself unable to move. I
have to do something. I can’t let her get hurt-
Beep! Beep! Beep!
For once, I break my routine. I don’t pause and get out of bed, I don’t turn on the lights
and look around the room. Instead, I scramble and jump up. I run over to my closet door and
untie the scarf. I hold it as close as I can and cry. I wrap myself in it.
For once, I break my routine. I don’t pause and get out of bed, I don’t turn on the lights
and look around the room. Instead, I scramble and jump up. I run over to my closet door and
untie the scarf. I hold it as close as I can and cry. I wrap myself in it.
When I get in my car I don’t go to work. I pass right by and drive to the edge of my little
town. I reach a small parking lot at my destination and leave my car. The walk there is a short
one, which for once I am thankful for. I arrive at a well-maintained headstone surrounded by
dozens of flowers.
town. I reach a small parking lot at my destination and leave my car. The walk there is a short
one, which for once I am thankful for. I arrive at a well-maintained headstone surrounded by
dozens of flowers.
“Rosa Landerson. XXXX-2022. Beloved Wife, daughter, and friend.” The grave reads.
I reach my hand over and gently brush away the small specks of dirt before reading
further down.
I reach my hand over and gently brush away the small specks of dirt before reading
further down.
“Ty Landerson. 2022. Taken before he even had a chance.” It finishes.
I should be at work, finishing a project. I should be eating lunch by myself. I should be
working on another project before heading to my house to eat dinner. I should be laying alone in
my bed trying to fall asleep. Today, I’m not doing any of those things. Today, I’m allowing myself
to break my schedule. Today, I’m allowing myself to feel.
I should be at work, finishing a project. I should be eating lunch by myself. I should be
working on another project before heading to my house to eat dinner. I should be laying alone in
my bed trying to fall asleep. Today, I’m not doing any of those things. Today, I’m allowing myself
to break my schedule. Today, I’m allowing myself to feel.
