Reality

The sharp howl of the alarm bludgeons me like an anvil to the head.

Even through closed eyes, I can feel the glare of its sanguine numbers bearing down on me with unyielding intensity.

I cover my head with a pillow in silent protest.

The wail of the alarm slowly distorts with increasing ferocity. The pitch rising as if in contempt of my futile resistance.

I show it real contempt and open my eyes just enough to slam a fist into the sleep button on it's head.

My numerical overlord finally relents and silence envelopes me like a beautiful cocoon.

I close my eyes, sink back down, and search my mind for that trusted road back to the land of sleep.

Oh sweet respite. 

My body jolts suddenly as another screech shreds my new found silence like a goddamn meat grinder. The clock numbers pulse at me with with renewed fury while its banshee wail tries to rip the dreams from behind my eyes.

And like that, the battle of wills is upon me. It's man versus machine and to the victor goes my dreams.

I hold fast. Eyes shut tight. Clinging to the fading security of sleep.

The alarm knows the game. If this is war then it's a general and it's calling the cavalry charge.

I tuck to fetal position and brace for the hit.

As if on queue, my phone beams to life with enough light and noise  to signal life on Mars.

It's too much. I'm only one man, fighting a war on two fronts. For a brief moment I contemplate a scorched earth policy.

I surrender instead and keep my resources to fight another day.

My eyes open.

The day starts.