8:23 AM

8:23 AM

by: missbeenaroundtheworld

A slender, white hand gropes around for a small box with buttons. Grasping the ringing object, the other hand cautiously emerges from under a colorful quilt. They work together to turn off the clock and silence is welcomed into the cold room. A yellow sock-clothed foot lightly taps the floor, like how a child’s foot taps a river to make ripples. Next, a green sock-clothed foot emerges to gracefully land on the other. The socks greet each other as lovers do, warming up the feet that they cover. Slowly and cautiously a closed light-brown eye peeps out of the covers and quickly retreats back into the warmth of the bed. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK. The sound rudely shatters the silence and Adalia groans. The morning has started.

Adalia waddled around in a warm yet fashionable coat that helped to keep her chilly bones warm. Ithaca, New York, was famous for having unforgiving winds, especially on a chilly December morning. Hasty to get to the coffee shop where she would be safe from the harsh winds, Adalia shielded her brown eyes from the cold by tucking her chin into her chest. OOMF! Concentrating on not slipping had turned out for the worse as she had completely knocked the wind out of a frazzled man sprawled on the ground. He was wearing a Raiders hat and he had freckles. Embarrassed and sorry, she knelt down to extend her arm as an act of apology. As the stranger grasped her arm to hoist himself, Adalia crashed onto the icy pavement. Horrified, she quickly hoisted herself up with the help of the light post on the street. “You f****** b****!” The man’s face was red, wrinkly, and freckled. “I’m so sorry! I didn't see you!” Adalia tried to give the man a hand. Yet she could not get her sight out of her watch. 8:23.