Gemotions

The alarm shrieked, a metallic assault on John’s ears. He slapped the snooze button, the brief respite a tantalizing glimpse of extended rest. His muscles ached with a fatigue that felt disproportionate to the amount of sleep he’d gotten.

The interview was scheduled for later, and the prep work remained undone. He considered the possibilities of the job, the potential for advancement, the need for new clothes. But the pull of staying still was stronger.

He pictured the commute, the small talk, the forced enthusiasm. His eyelids felt heavy, his brain slow. Another fifteen minutes. That was all it would take to feel refreshed, he reasoned. Fifteen more minutes led to another, and then another.