Still Awake

0 hours:

Eyes open for the first time.

It's been 3 hours, only 3 hours.

Standard at this point, it's been years:

Years since fatigue has left my body;

Bags branded under my eyes.

17 hours:

Midnight the next day,

Halfway through a night shift.

Blasting music

To fight off the boredom and stay

Awake.

29 hours:

Bed-bound but restless:

Home for 6. The brain a battlefield;

Weary and anxious.

Unable to think, unable to slow,

Unable to rest.

45 hours:

Sunrise peeks through the curtains,

Heralding a new day.

Heralding more time without respite.

I need relief; this isn't normal,

I cannot move.

67 hours:

It's 2am,

The sun has set.

Finally, my brain starts to shut down.

It cannot withstand the weariness;

The pain.

0 hours:

It's been 4 hours.

One more than last time

At least.