* * * * * * * * * * * * brian did not have to set an alarm clock to make his breakfast meeting.his sleep cycle lasted only a few hours.his daily exhaustion had become so familiar to him , he had gotten used it.it felt like he was viewing his entire life through a dream.except the dream was a nightmare.he attempted to wash some of the sickly washed out look from his face.during the initial withdrawal , he could barely see the pupils of his eyes.they were tiny dots.his eyes looked sunken in and his face was a pale white.brian had never experienced being this sick and wondered if his face was going to remain this way permanently .