Let Me Sleep, or I'll Never Wake
My dad always calls me a lazy bum. It is because I often fall asleep without warning. I sleep in class, while eating, and even while crossing the street.
My homeroom teacher, Yvonne Smith, suggests that he take me to a hospital for an examination.
But Dad scoffs and says, "He's just staying up all night playing on his phone."
After that, he confiscates my phone and removes the lock from my bedroom door. Every time I get sleepy, he slaps me.
I don't want to be hit, and I don't want to make Dad angry. So, I start pinching my thighs, pulling out my hair, and even rubbing hand sanitizer spray under my nose to stay awake.
But whenever the overwhelming drowsiness hits, nothing can stop it.
On the day of the final exams, Dad happens to be one of the invigilators.
I bite my lip until it bleeds and silently beg myself inwardly, "Just this once, please stay awake."
Still, I fail to fight off the sleepiness.
Suddenly, someone flips over my desk. The chair tips with it, and I crash to the floor. My temple slams into the corner of the desk, and darkness instantly floods my vision.
Dad stands over me, furious and disappointed. "Zach Davies, are you really so obsessed with sleeping that you don't even care about your final exams? If you're that lazy, then stay down there and keep sleeping!"
I lie sprawled across my exam paper as my vision slowly fades away.
Dad, I think I am going to sleep for a very long time…