Monday Blues

Mondays really take their toll on me.

I always wake up minutes earlier, anticipating the alarm but very much dreading the drone of weekday life. I lay silent in the dark, watching the second hand slowly pull the morning in as it sweeps across the clock's face. Tick, tick, tick... My entire being braces itself not for an explosion, but in knowing the absence of even a spark in the days to come.

The alarm goes off, and I extricate myself from my bed. I attend to the call of nature, take a quick shower, and put on a shirt and tie. Breakfast is quick, and the drive to the office uneventful. I trudge through the rest of the day's routine, feeling my spirit gradually dim with the light outside.

I have lost my senses, which to me are essential in experiencing life. In the past, I would be awakened by the deafening sound of the alarm and would linger in bed to savor the warmth trapped under the covers. Getting up, my skin would then be assaulted by pinpricks as I turn the airconditioning off. Numbers 1 and 2 felt as cleansing as the warm fragrant bath that followed. The smell and taste of buttered toast were heavenly, and dressing up was preceded by a difficult selection process. The view of the drive to the office would not be limited to the backside of the vehicle in front of me, and the rest of the day would be as much with friends as it was with colleagues.

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XXX ### - that's the plate number of the car in front of me. As nameless as the thousands of commuters heading home at this hour. The car turned right into a McDonald's drive-through station, and under the bright yellow arches, I caught a glimpse of the male driver smiling at the kids who were ecstatic in the back seat.

I stepped on the gas to close the gap in front of me. A reddish light appeared on my dashboard.

I am empty...

photo credit: Deeraj Gupta