Sleep 

I walked up the stairs. I never fumble for my keys because they are attached to 
my wallet. My wallet is a few years old now and is covered in permanent marker 
graffitti. I thought about the loops I drew on my note papers that day. I never 
limit my drawing to the margins. My notes are a living document; dates are never 
recorded, only visual aids. I got the wallet out of my right back pocket and put 
the key in the door, hoping that no one would try to open it from the other 
side. This has never happened but if someone were in a hurry it could break my 
wrist. I am careful to keep out from in front of the door. I don’t look back 
to see if anyone wants to join me on my way in anymore. I open the door and look 
up the stairs. I was careful to stay to the right so that if anyone was coming I 
knew I would be on the right. I always pass on the right. I used to change my 
mind at least 3 times which side I was going to pass someone on before finally 
encountering them. Now I depend on defaults. Bright pulsing lights that block 
out everything but the way I am going. When I have been having trouble sleeping, 
the halls of the dorm, the paths that circle the school become electric rails 
and I am shuttled along by the neck, still as glass. 

Earlier that day I encountered an acquaintance. A third joined in. 

"..I've discovered that when I sleep enough, I can stay awake through 
class." the one on the right said. 

"Who needs sleep?" said the one on the left. 

"I do." I said. I clenched my left hand and then the right. "In high 
school, I learned to sleep with my eyes open." 

"That's crazy!" the one on the right said. "Don't they like, fall out 
or something?"

I shook my head. "Blinking is involuntary in that state for some reason. Keeps 
the eyes moist. I'm like a snake. Let me bite you." By then I wasn't 
looking at him. By then the electrical current had taken hold and I was gone.