It was a day like any other, neither good nor particularly bad, except for that God-damned alarm! The synchronous and incessant monotone piercing my ears. All I had in me were some retaliatory groans but eons of technological growth proved quite the foe and weathered my assault quite admirably. After losing the fight of communication, it was time for brute force.

I forfeited comfort in the name of justice and, with all the force my small frame could muster, I took the pillow from under my own head and swung death upon the screeching alarm clock. Victory! The evil has been slain and the common folk may once again sleep soundly in their beds. Truly a hero of the people and for the people, except…

“Shit!” I screamed as I jolted from my bed in a panic. I hadn’t used an alarm clock in at least ten years. That was my phone! I sprang out towards my phone, now lying across the room, in nothing but an oversized T-shirt and clumsily dove to check its condition for any scratches. “Please be OK. Please. Please. I just got you replaced.” I begged. I checked the phone with a fine-toothed comb and, to my great relief, did not find a single scratch. Now, while this could certainly be considered the start to a terrible day, I chose to look on the bright side. Nothing bad actually happened, so maybe my guardian angel had my back today.

After the absolute terror causing adrenaline to course my veins to wake me up better than any shot of espresso I actually checked the time on my phone. ‘The alarm was still going off. Given my luck it was the last one I set but maybe I got up on the first try. And….Nope,’ I thought to myself. Apparently, I had hit the snooze a few times in my flagging state, and now I was running late. Dangerously so in fact.

In a panic I threw my shirt from my torso, agonizing over the loss of soft and cozy fabric. Over the years I had worn that thin cloak of cotton into the most comfortable den of peace I had ever known. And now it lay on the floor, as I stand above, pitifully and cold with my now nude form exposed. To some this would be a terrible choice, inducing panic and regret. To me it was the perfect amount of motivation as I sped to my closet and threw the door open to search through my wardrobe, and coincidentally block the view of my body from the door in case my roommate saw fit to barge in for the fifth time this month.

On looking at my options my mind wandered to the wretched example of a blind date from the night before. One of my friends, that bitch Suzy, set me up with one of her boyfriend’s frat brothers. He was attractive enough but the first words out of his mouth were, “Dang momma, you got it goin’ on.” To my dismay. But fine, maybe he was nervous… or just drunk, but that was something I could work with. It was the next words, “Less busty than Brad made it seem but I like what I see,” that had me get up and walk away. He probably wrote me off as a bitch but he wasn’t even worth the effort. Granted there is no way he knew that was a sensitive subject for me, always wishing I could match either of my sisters’ voluptuous figures, but still, who starts a conversation like that? Instead, I brought the drama to dish to my girlfriends and got drunk instead. Just the memory filled me with a desire to get dolled up and show off a little.

I saw my torn jeans and considered for a moment with my favorite sweater, a bit baggy but stylish. It had been a while and smelled a bit musty, providing an even greater sense of comfort. It was a bit on the wrong side of what I felt I needed as a pick me up and so I decided I could do better. I considered one of the dresses I use for certain occasions, a vibrant red made of the smoothest faux-silk. It was elegant and eye-catching like I wanted, but it was definitely a bit too far in the opposite direction. Finally, I landed on my red pleated skirt and my white long-sleeve shirt with the horizontal, black stripes. It was cozy and light, while freshly washed and soft to the touch so it fit the bill on all fronts. It was on the chilly side and I could pair the outfit with a really cute leather jacket that I stole from my dad’s closet from his “glory days”. The warmth and familiar scent always reminded me of my family and the support they offered back home.

I got dressed in my second best underwear, still can’t believe I wasted my best on last night ugh, and got dressed. I took a few minutes to do my eyeliner and put my earrings in, just a few studs since my dad would freak out if she went any further. With the jacket on I added a black watch and put my hair up with a red hairband to match the skirt. Taking a peek in the mirror, the contrast between the black, red, and white fit really well with the pale caramel of my skin tone I was proud of. My self-confidence rose quickly and I was ready to take on the day like the badass I was. And the whole process only took ten of the 30 minutes I had before class, leaving 20 minutes to complete my 18 minute commute. With absolute confidence in my style and my petite frame I went straight to my car.

The firm grip of the rubber case covering the key rotated in my grip as I approached my bright red Miata. I know it is a ‘girl car’, but I spent two summers saving up for it and bought it used. I loved that car so much, it was my pride and joy driving around campus. I would pump up the radio with the top down and a few of my girlfriends. We would grab some bubble-tea and drive around until we found something better to do or just talk for a while. Honestly, that car may have been the reason I actually had some of my friends. I opened the door and slid right into the leather seat, allowing the worn nature to cradle my body comfortably, I adjusted the mirrors and started the ignition.

Is any car trip, especially one on a time crunch, complete without music? Thankfully the Bluetooth connected and played where I left off, playing some of my T. Swift. I know it is cliché and my friends give me grief over it, but especially after last night, I sympathized with the difficulty of finding a good relationship. So, with proper tunes and an awesome car I peeled out of my parking space, determined to make it to my class on time. I was NOT going to let today be my first tardy of my college career. All I had to do was make it to class and turn in my homework, then I could zone out and get some more rest to remove the last semblances of the hangover I had.

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After a few minutes, I was belting out to “Guilty as Sin” when I got a message from Cindy. I should have seen it coming, she knows how often I get to class early. Like a good driver I ignored the text, content to leave the message unread while I navigated traffic. I took safety and all of my classes very seriously. Apparently this was not enough for Cindy, she seemed to take my lack of response as a sign of danger, so much so that she started to blow my phone up. It rang so much that at the next red light I gave in to temptation and took a look at what was so important. Apparently the professor was rewarding those who arrived early with a bonus quiz for extra credit. I couldn’t let this opportunity slide so I decided to get a little loose with the safety rules.

At the next light, once I realized it was yellow and not red, I made the reckless choice to advance instead of slow to prepare for it to turn red. As I approached the corner, beginning to take my right turn my eyes went wide and I laid on the horn with all of my strength. “Oh Shit! Get out of the way!” I screamed. Someone had already started crossing the street before the red light. He was looking at his phone so he didn’t even notice the two tons of unrelenting terror rounding the corner at speeds high enough to strike the very life from him. ‘Wait…is that Cyrus? Oh God, it is!’

“Run Cyrus!” Was the best I could exclaim as I stomped as hard on the brake as physically possible. Suddenly, I was thrown forward as a large bump rattled and rolled over my windshield, forming cracks that traveled through it so I couldn’t see a thing. Before I was able to recognize what was truly happening, the airbags exploded in my face. My dainty head was thrown back into my headrest as my vision flared white and I lost whoever knows how much time in consequence. When I finally came to, my car was stopped and bystanders had swarmed the road, one even at my car door trying to ask me if I was alright. I mumbled, “Nah mee. Howabout Cyrush?”

Naturally, the only response I received was a look of utter confusion. He clearly couldn’t understand my concern for my friend. ‘What was he even doing out here this early? He usually has the later classes? Oh god, is he going to be alright?’ The thoughts rushing through my head as addled as it was. I grew determined, and fumbled my hands to the door and seatbelt. In the worst exhibition of dexterity I had ever shown in my life I was able to release both latches and put my weight on the door. The nearby Samaritans gasped in surprise as my body fell limp to the ground while exiting the remains of my car.

I hit the ground hard, and lost another few crucial moments to sensory deprivation that could only be caused by head trauma. I’m not entirely sure but, I believe I threw up then and there, the feeling of the acid in my throat burned and left my tongue with the sickeningly sweet taste of bile lends credence to the memory. I came to a second or two later and forced myself to my knees. “Hey careful! You shouldn’t be moving around so much after an accident. Lay down and stay still.” Some guy said to my left.

“Shuddup, my fwen is dere.” Was all I could say to get him off of my back. I scanned around to try and find Cyrus. I spun around and everything more than fifteen feet out blurred like I needed glasses and the light around me hurt my eyes. But I knew what I had done, and I couldn’t rest until I knew for sure that my friend would be alright. I finally saw a crumpled form in the middle of the road. A crowd was beginning to form around him too scared to touch him and risk further injury, and too concerned to watch from a step away. I crawled my way to his limp form, the loose pavement biting into my hands and tearing the soft flesh, leaving a trail of blood in my wake. After an agonizing minute, I finally made it to Cyrus’ body.

Tears streaked my face as I looked him over. I couldn’t see his chest moving and I panicked. Recognizing the danger a moment too late I turned his body so he lay on his back. The wetness coating his body was warm and sticky, truly a poor sign. As I was checking for a pulse I noticed his gaze upon me. I turned to face him and say, “Are Yoou Oker? Pleash, you hab to be gud. Im shawwy.” The tears flooded my eyes to the point I could no longer see anything distinct. My jaw hurt like I had never known, my face swelling, and blood coating myself. Truly a pathetic state, and yet, all I could concern myself was this poor boy.

A cough interrupted my self-loathing, “Hey, Tal. What’s wrong? You’re looking terrible. Ack *Cough* did you do professor Wang’s homework?” He said weakly, before hacking and spitting a glob of congealing blood onto the ground. And his eyes began fading and losing focus.

As tears welled in my eyes and I began to choke back sobs I did my best to banter, “Yeb I tid. Lon nyte, not shoor any guud. Yuu wan kobbe it?” I grabbed his hand and squeezed with what strength I had remaining. The people around me had their phones in hand and I can only hope that someone was calling an ambulance. Truly this had become the worst day I could imagine. I crumpled over his body and let the sobs fly. His breathing and pulse weakening by the second. ‘If only there was something I could do?’ I looked pleadingly towards the heavens to save him, take me instead, anything to make this better.

A blue light flashed and surrounded the area. I looked around, only able to move my eyes. Everyone was still, their eyes moving as frantically as my own. All I could think was, ‘This is it! God is intervening, my prayers have been answered, he’s going to make it!’ My eyes lit up, in genuine relief I let the pain and confusion win. Only for the universe to take it all away, the blue light shrank and imploded on us all and everything was black. And then there was a screen.

Congratulations!!!

You have been selected to participate in Beta Test: 21623811 of System V: 21546.25

Please wait while calibration is completed, you will be placed into your trials and tested for viability and optimal test path shortly.

Thank you for your cooperation and do your best!