Dave

The alarm rings promptly at five, ripping me out of my sleep in a cold sweat. I’ve been having nightmares again. It’s always the same thing. Me, sitting in my underwear on top of some enormous skyscraper, in the middle of the ocean nonetheless, with a crowd of little doctors in yellow canoes, yelling at me to jump. Bizarre, but I’ve stopped questioning it.

I throw on my jogging clothes, grab a bottle of water, and head out the door. I love this feeling of being the only one up. It’s liberating knowing that you have the roads to yourself, your thoughts to yourself. I start slowly, but quickly pick up the pace. Once I’m nearly passed out, I turn around and start jogging back home. I shower and get dressed, eating one more cube before I go face my family’s morning chaos.

I hear Jenny’s screams erupting from the kitchen because Lucas once again ate her favorite cereal. Matty is leaning over the balcony, scaring the neighbors. Me, I grab another water and head out the door without another word.