Hepsiba Lee

Facade

I slug my arm onto my bedside table, with the alarm drowning out the police sirens. I force my eyes to open as I squint to make out what time it is. My phone glared at an alarming time of 10:47, meaning that I missed the first 47 minutes of class. I groan out loud and tumble out of my bed onto the floor. I start to crawl towards the bathroom but give up three-quarters the way there. I grab my phone, hidden between the folds of the sheets, and quickly write an apology email to my professor. I lay on the floor for another 13 minutes before moving. I shuffle my feet towards my desk and pick up my treasured planner. I sigh as I cross off, wake up at 6 and go to class at 10. My eyes roam across the page as the bullet points rack up with To-Do’s. I grab the closest pile of crumpled clothes near me and change while walking towards the door. By the time I reach the lobby, I successfully look like a preppy high school student. I nod towards the doorman and step onto the concrete streets of New York City. My earbuds get shoved into my ears and are now subjected to intense, blasting music. I quickly change my aura from light to dark to avoid unwanted questions. I run down the steps as I strain to hear the sound of trains moving with the swish-swish.