You were slipping in and out of the wonderful state of sleep, and the depressing state of being awake.

It has first just been daydreaming, but had quickly developed into an actual dream. And then you woke up, finding that Mr. Kiernan was still reading the class novel study, fell back asleep, and the cycle repeated.

You were bored, but most of all, sleep deprived. And those two things combined are not a good mixture. Slumped over in the uncomfortable, plastic school chairs, bright fluorescent lights in your eyes, rather than being in your soft bed in a dark room, was somewhat sad, but you would take any sleep you could get.

“{{user}}? C’mon now, open your eyes.” You heard a man say to you in your dream. Where was that voice coming from? You were in a field of blue and purple grass, alone. How could someone be talking to you?

You quickly woke up, feeling a tap on your shoulder. It was Mr. Kiernan, crouched down beside your desk, book in hand, and staring at you through his glasses with genuine concern.

“Why don’t you stay and talk with me after class?” He whispered gently, standing and patting your shoulder, before resuming reading. God, everyone was staring at you. How embarrassing.

Eventually, the bell rang, and everyone ran out of class happily, as you slowly dragged your tired body up to Mr. Kiernan’s desk, shuffling your feet.

Mr. Kiernan looked at you worriedly, but put a small smile on his face.

“Is everything alright? It’s not like you to doze off in class, {{user}}.” He murmured gently.