Late Night

“WHAT TIME IS IT?!?” I yelled.

“GIRL IF YOU DON’T SHUT UP!!”

I had jumped out of a delirious sleep. Actually, a nap was more like it. I set an alarm for ten in the morning but who knows what time it was.

My computer glowed faintly on the other side of the small room. Why was the screensaver so dim? I squinted so hard trying to see the time I might as well have closed my eyes and went back to sleep. Well, I could safely say that was my mom. She was home from work so it must have been morning at least.

It smelled like breakfast as I trudged into the kitchen. “Mmmmh, that smells so goood. When are you gonna open a restaurant?”

She chuckled, “You got jokes don’t you. I’m surprised you woke up to eat. Hmm, it's 9am so… I'm guessing you went to bed just now? Should I be saying goodnight?”

There was a pause, and I tried again.

“Mmmmh, that smells so goood. What are you doing today?”

She laughed and shook her head. “I should not have bought you that game. It’s been a week and you’re acting like you’ve never had a game in your life.”

Of course that's not true. I've played so many different games. How else would my sleep schedule have got so jacked up?

“I'm about to go to bed so I can get up and get some groceries before work tonight.”

“You need help right, can I come?” I asked eagerly. She never let me help her with anything. She said she liked taking care of me so I don't know why I bothered asking. I know what she'll say.

“I got it. Just relax, play your new game.”

“Alright, I'll go back to sleep after finishing this too, then.” I sighed.

As I opened my eyes, a soft light peeked through my window curtain. I lay there on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and didn't hear any other noise apart from my breathing. Mom must have left.

How exciting. There was really nothing for me to do. Mom already cleaned the house. I did some self-care before I started my gaming session last week. Alright fine, I'm calling a shower self-care. I should take another one by the way. I would have a job if I hadn't learned the hard way that no one is looking to hire an inexperienced young adult. If only it was as easy to get a job as it had been in my game.

I went over to my computer and opened the new software. The screen read: Life: Epic, Abstract, and Precious!

My recent save file was waiting for me and I was welcomed by the way-cooler version of me, Mini Safiya.

I'm a– I mean, Mini Saf is a millionaire. I got all that money pretty easily. Jobs, side missions, selling stuff, you know. But she had debt and I had nothing but time so I would take care of that tonight and truly be rich.

I played and played and all the colors from the screen made my eyes and brain feel fuzzy. Somewhere in the house a door opened and closed. I didn't know how much time passed before it opened and closed again but there was no more light trying to shine through the window curtain.

I played and played and the colors danced and danced and my eyes blinked and flickered.

“Finally.” I was so tired there was no more energy in me to actually scream in excitement, but I was so happy to finish the game. My conscience was clear of the debt even if it was a virtual one. I was free to do whatever I wanted. If only it was real.

The telltale light behind the curtain touched my arm. My sticky eyes saw the time in the corner of the screen: 4:56am.

“I guess I should go to sleep now.” Yeah, I should sleep, but for some reason I wanted to see who was online. I didn't have any friends that played this game. Why did I want to do that?

I opened Mini Saf’s profile and dragged the mouse to the Social Network tab. Since this was an online game and players could interact with each other, you could see which players were online and which players weren't.

Two minutes to five. My eyes were giving up on me and my head kept dipping. Four players were online.

I wasn't expecting to see anyone. Who would be up at that time? Okay, I really was tired because I walked right into that one.

I was done for the night, or morning, so I went to the menu to save and end my session.

The title screen appeared and then the screen flicked. My eyes were glued to the iridescent background and the fuzzy feeling in the back of my mind returned. Darkness surrounded me as my eyes closed.

When I opened them again, I was bathed in light. “Huh?”