The morning air - suffused with the warm light of dawn - promised peace and grace upon these lands. I breathed it in, blissfully unaware of the dreadful fate that had already woven itself into existence. Perhaps, as I opened my eyes for the first time and let the cold air fill my lungs, there was time, still, but I was blinded by hope.

Hope; That heavy chain that weighs all of us down. It bound me to my demise, and I didn’t even know to struggle.

I had an early breakfast - excited as I was, I found myself waking up much earlier than usual. It was good… Too good, perhaps. My apple was snappy and sweet; I filled my mug of chocolate milk to the brim and managed not to spill even a drop. I should’ve known then, at least, but I blinded myself to the truth, even as the unmistakable mirage of perfection poisoned my day.

I got on the train. It was late, but not so late as to be notable. Fate, that fiend, it lured me to sleep; it caressed me with bliss; it even missed a stitch on its harrowing tapestry, so I would not suspect a thing.

We got to the stop my grandma was supposed to get on. I stood up. By then, my heart was heavy. It was too late, it had already been too late for some time, but only then did I start to realize how deep I’d dug my own grave. I took six steps, and drowned six feet in dirt. I looked around, but saw nothing. Darkness, only darkness surrounded me.

My grandma… She forgot today was sushi day.

My heart shattered; Its tiny pieces fell to the floor, singing a crackling melody of pain and suffering, a suffocated symphony of red thread around a supple neck, drawing blood.

My brother called her to confirm, but it was as I’d feared; as I’d known.

We had Burger King instead. The fries were trash, the food was subpar, everything was overpriced.

I’m hungry, still.

At least I got to wear jeans, today. A tiny solace in a sea of crushing defeat at the hands of destiny.