she picks up one of the dull pencils from the pile on her desk
she looks for the next unmarked box on the calendar
hanging on her closet door
it’s tuesday. again.
a brand new day
to put a brand new x
on her not-so-new calendar
at least it’s december. right?

she makes her way back to her unmade bed
every move taking the last bit of energy in her body
her eyes shift to her clock
9:10
she digs her face into the pillow
she knows what’s coming
and she’s dreading it
her second alarm sounds
the sickening noise filling the room

the computer feels heavier than usual
the sound of it turning on rings in her ears
hastily, she clicks the link
the humdrum sound of her teacher speaking
drowned out by her thoughts
mind racing, body restless yet too tired to move a muscle

her priorities fight for dominance
eyes darting back and forth between the computer and bed
her head falls forward onto the wooden desk in front of her

she jolts back at the sound of her name
“she’s probably absent again”
coming to the realization that she is going to be marked truant
it’s the second day in a row
her teacher doesn’t wait for her delayed response
she shuts her computer
her mind filled with resentment
doesn’t really matter at this point
she turns to look at the clock again
9:30. great.