I watch as the small grains of sand drop, one by one. Outside of my distorted image, people walk by, not even noticing my desperate cry for help.

I put my hand to the surface of my cage. No, cage isn’t the right word for it. More like deprivation. Deprivation of what?

Everything.

I watch franticly as the sand begins to fill, higher and higher each minute.
No, second.

Sweat drips down my warm neck, it’s unbelievably hot. Sweltering.

I give out one last cry for help, finally giving up.
Then you turned your head, staring at me. Well, actually not at me, through me. Like you heard my call, but couldn’t see me.

My heart pounds through my aching chest. I can hear the beat.Thump, thump, thump.

I realized I was in an hourglass. The time ticking away.

My time.

Our time.

What is time?
You tell me, because I seem to be trapped in it.

I’m in a race against time, and it’s already at the finish line.

And I still haven’t started running.