Free Sleep Keeper by April Wilcox Page B

fall back asleep, but it was no use. After twenty minutes I gave up and sat up in bed. My entire body ached from head to toe. I stretched my sore muscles and struggled out of bed. The moment I put pressure on my feet, flashes of pain shot through the joints of my ankles and knees. I buckled from the pain but caught my fall. I straightened back up and took another step. It felt like I was walking on bruised feet and damaged legs. I hobbled to the bathroom and dragged myself into the shower… again.
    Unfortunately, the shower did not give me any desperately needed energy. I turned off the water and stepped out onto the cold tile floor. Water dripping, I walked across the bathroom, scoured through the cabinet and draped a towel across my tired body. I towel-dried my sopping wet hair and flung the towel on the floor, attempting to cover the trail of water leading from the shower. Usually, I would jump to wipe up the wet mess, but today I just stared at the towel and walked over it, leaving it on the floor.
    I threw on some clothes and dragged my body across the hall. The aching knots in my stomach summoned me to the kitchen. I grabbed a bowl from the cabinet, milk from the fridge and poured some cereal. I pulled out a spoon from the drawer and flopped down at the breakfast bar to eat. Every bite took effort as I ate with my left hand, using my right hand to hold up my head. The puffy skin around my tired eyes burned and began to twitch from exhaustion.
    I forced my head upright, trying not to slouch over so much. The sun shone through the kitchen window, casting a faded rainbow across the counter. Thinking some fresh air might help, I sauntered outside to the courtyard. The flowers were in bloom and the trees covered with leaves, but it all looked dull and faded. I sighed and walked back inside.
     
    The rest of the summer flew by in a haze. Each night I visited Orion’s world and each day I dragged myself through mine. As time went on, I felt more energized when I was with Orion and more exhausted when I awoke. We explored different regions of his world and shared many stories from our lives and dreams for our future. He loved to sit outside and play the guitar and I loved to lie on the grass and listen to the soft melodies, lost in his music. He taught me about farming and gardening, although I had yet to test these new skills out at home.
    Mom was doing a little better, but was still distant. Mitchell was immersed in his studies, which I didn’t mind so much. His growing concerned with my constant exhaustion and, in his words, my ‘pessimistic outlook on life’ was more annoying than endearing. He insisted I see a doctor but I refused, brushing him off with random excuses. I knew I was running on fumes, but it was worth the price to venture into my other world. Besides, even if I wanted to take a night off and sleep, I didn’t have a choice. Unbeknownst to me, I continued on this unknown path, hopeful its reason would soon be unveiled.

Chapter 5
     
     
    I sat on the beach with my feet partially buried in the warm sand. Gently waves danced against the shoreline, bringing me peace. I watched Orion through a window in his house for several minutes before rising to join him. I started to cross the beach, when I felt a sudden urge to stop. An invisible pull from the left of the shore called me closer. I turned toward its direction and spotted a cave carved into the cliff. I never noticed it before, although I had never been known as observant. Curiosity or maybe something else, urged me forward.
    Its dark mouth was damp and narrow, with shallow waves rolling in. The opening was barely tall enough to fit inside. Using the nearby rocks to steady my balance, I climbed into the waist deep water and waded into the darkness. Normally, you couldn’t pay me to poke my head into a dark scary cave, but this time, I wasn’t scared at all. I was drawn into it.
    I stretched out my arms and used my hands to feel my way through the water