[ WP ] You have a unique ability of waking up exactly at 7:00 AM every day , fully rested . You will never oversleep , and getting to bed later than 7 will just result in waking up back at 7 again . ( Meaning you 'll technically be able to travel back in time )

11:00 PM, Friday 25th of March, 2017 
 
 It had been the most amazing day. 
 
 Haley sat down and inhaled the smell of the valerian tea, a satisfied smile on her face. She had the routine down now. All the lights were turned off around her, the curtains pulled tight to block out all light and sound from outside. The only thing that mattered was that she fell asleep before the clock hit midnight. 
 
 She did. 
 
 07:00 AM, Friday 25th of March, 2017. 
 
 Haley picked up her pencil and crossed another line in the small box of the calendar, counted thirty-seven lines. Outside she heard the same incessant honking that she had heard every time, and knew that when she put on her coat and walked outside there would be two men cursing at each other, one standing behind his open car door and the other waving a walking stick like a pointer. 
 
 The streets were full of people despite the early morning, and Haley navigated the crowd with ease. Prepared for the elbow that knocked her to the side, jumped over a dirty puddle and found her spot in line at the coffee shop. It was funny how many details she noticed now that she hadn ’ t the first time, how many things people saw each day without seeing. How many moments that passed without being truly enjoyed. 
 
 She inhaled the scent of coffee beans and fresh buns and bought just the one cup with the name on it that wasn ’ t her own. The barista smiled weakly and gave her the same platitude, but as she repeated the moment Haley had noticed the sincerity behind the professional distance. The true affection that resulted in the name on the cup being correctly spelled. 
 
 Across the street and through an intricately carved gate, under pink trees in full bloom and past tired people in uniform that exchanged pleasantries as they swapped places. Some were going home to sleep, some just came from there. Haley came from her bed, but her home was just ahead. 
 
 Pale skin stretched taut over thin fingers, fingers digging into the smooth sheet of the bed, a face slightly twisted in pain. An expression that disappeared as soon as Haley appeared in the doorway, pain giving way to joy, to love. 
 
 “ Good morning, sunshine. ” Peter smiled and sat up straight, moving to the side of the bed so Haley could sit down next to him rather than on the uncomfortable chair. Not that the state of the other chair mattered, she would have curled next to him even if he lay on a bed of nails. 
 
 “ The barista sends her regards. “ Haley smiled and gave him the cup and one of the buns, biting into her own to conceal the expression her face. No matter how many times she entered the room, no matter how she prepared herself, the sight of him wasting away brought tears to her eyes and stole the voice from her throat. 
 
 “ No coffee for you today? ” He smiled at her, his blue eyes regaining some of their light as he sniffed the bun and sighed. 
 
 “ Makes it hard for me to sleep. ” Haley shook her head and placed her hand on his thigh, feeling his warmth through the sheet and the hospital gown. Just being near him was enough to fill her with love and the threat of a terrible, terrible loss. A loss she couldn ’ t deny even as she postponed it. 
 
 
 “ Sleep, huh? ” Peter looked at her, what remained of his eyebrows crunching together as he considered her. “ You always have enough sleep, and you always wake up at the same time. ” 
 
 “ Not the same time. A new time. ” Haley looked down, still scared that his first reaction might be outrage or something she didn ’ t want to see. She waited until his hand found her thigh and squeezed. 
 
 “ You shouldn ’ t. You have to go on with your life, I need you to go on with your life. ” His voice was thick, the words formed slowly and deliberately. “ You have to go on, to live a life full of happiness. ” 
 
 “ I ’ m happy right now. ” Haley turned to him and smiled, not hiding the tears that filled her eyes and started down her cheek. Her hand found his and she squeezed. “ We ’ ve had this conversation before, and trust me, it all ends up the same way. ” 
 
 He stared at her, mouth hanging slightly open and eyes searching her face. Then he laughed and pulled her close, and she laughed along with him. It wasn ’ t really that funny, but every type of emotion seemed more accessible inside the hospital. 
 
 “ How many times? ” He said once the laughter stilled, brushing the hair away from her face and leaving his hand on her cheek. “ You need to continue living. ” 
 
 Haley looked back at him and then at the clock on the wall, ticking down the hours until his last appointment. Until the doctors took his pain away and him along with it. They had had that conversation many times as well. 
 
 “ I will, “ she said at last, putting her own hand up to his and intertwining their fingers. “ As soon as I ’ m ready. ” 
 
 He nodded and pulled her close, kissing her fingers with his chapped lips and wrapping his thin arms around her. He had told her that he was ready, and she had told him that she wasn ’ t. 
 
 She would replay the day until she was. 
 
 
 ____________________________ 
 
 
 If you like this, there's more over on /r/Kolibri_Writings
