The days were long. However, once the sunset, the hours seemed endless. Ashe couldn’t recall when it actually began. Sleep just didn’t come naturally for the girl. The more she tried to lay there and force it, the longer her eyes stayed alert. At first, it caused problems. She was tired all the time but could only sleep when her body finally gave out. Never knowing when that would be made tasks such as work and driving difficult. Though, over time she adapted. Coffee was her best friend and soon she had a handle of her body limit to how long before she actually collapsed. Which in her eyes, meant sleep at last!
It wasn’t as bad as people thought it was. Sure, Ashe had a constant shadow under her eyes from the lack of sleep, there was the occasional worry that she might be on drugs, and boredom was her constant companion, but now she had more hours of the day—and night—to get what needed to be done, done.
The night she first noticed him had been more restless than usual. There was nothing more that needed to be done. Her apartment was clean, Laundry done, the games she did have she had played so many times she could play them blindfolded. It was the definition of boring. That’s when she caught a glance of a man out her window. He was in the apartment complex right across from hers. By the looks of it, he seemed close to her age and he was very, very handsome. More than that, it was going on 3 am now and he showed no signs of settling down for the night. Perhaps he had something pressing to do before he could go to sleep. Ashe didn’t linger at the window long before sending him a smile and a wave then moving out of sight.
This soon became a little routine for the two. His apartment would be lit the same hours as Ashe’s and more nights than not, they would send a friendly wave to each other. She had never actually met her insomnia-mate, nor had she even had a chance to speak with Him, but she couldn’t help but wonder about him. After all, it wasn’t often she found someone who shared the same problem as her. Maybe her nights wouldn’t be so long if she had someone to talk to during them? Still, the girl couldn’t just waltz over there and be like, Hey! I noticed you don’t sleep. Well, I don’t sleep either! Why don’t we both spend our not sleeping nights together? Yeah, that wasn’t weird at all…
Soon, she began to notice him on the outside world as well. Not only did she spot him in the window across her apartment, but her eyes would catch his silhouette passing by while working. At first, the girl had to look twice to make sure the lack of sleep wasn’t finally catching up to her and making her hallucinate. But there he was, walking past the window outside the little coffee shop she worked at. He seemed to have peered in a few times but never came in to greet her. It wasn’t like he had an obligation though. It just would’ve been nice to be able to put a name to the face she always waved too.
It seemed tonight was going to be another boring one. There were still quite a few hours left until morning and normal people would come alive again and here she was, plopped down on the couch staring at the TV but honestly not truly watching it. Ashe lifted her cup of coffee to her lips only to find it empty. Sighing, she stood, walking to the coffee maker and sighing again when she found it empty. She grabbed the container that she kept the coffee grounds in and opened it before having a slight heart attack to see it empty as well. Ashe would rather avoid going out in the city streets at 2 am, especially for something as simple as coffee.
Closing the container, Ashe turned around and leaned her back against the counter, unconsciously peering out the window. His lights were on and there he was, standing by the window hunched over as if picking something up. It was no surprise at this point. Her mind began to wonder how he maintained his awareness. It had to be something like coffee too, right? Her eyes lingered on him as she got lost in her thoughts and the next thing she knew, his eyes locked onto hers. Her body froze. She hadn’t meant to stare at him like a creeper and worse, he had just caught her doing it! Instead of lingering much longer, she sent him a smile and wave before rushing out of sight.
Not soon after she changed from her pajamas into something more presentable. Then headed out the door to go buy coffee at the 24-hour supermarket a few blocks away. Then, a thought struck her. This was it. Yes! This was her opportunity to talk to him! It was a legit reason. It couldn’t be too weird, considering their circumstances, right? He should understand the importance of coffee! Not only would it save her from walking in the streets at dark, she might finally be able to get his name!
After taking several moments of mulling it over, she finally decided to take the chance and headed out the door and into his apartment complex. After making sure that the apartment was his, she took a deep breath and knocked.
It wasn’t as bad as people thought it was. Sure, Ashe had a constant shadow under her eyes from the lack of sleep, there was the occasional worry that she might be on drugs, and boredom was her constant companion, but now she had more hours of the day—and night—to get what needed to be done, done.
The night she first noticed him had been more restless than usual. There was nothing more that needed to be done. Her apartment was clean, Laundry done, the games she did have she had played so many times she could play them blindfolded. It was the definition of boring. That’s when she caught a glance of a man out her window. He was in the apartment complex right across from hers. By the looks of it, he seemed close to her age and he was very, very handsome. More than that, it was going on 3 am now and he showed no signs of settling down for the night. Perhaps he had something pressing to do before he could go to sleep. Ashe didn’t linger at the window long before sending him a smile and a wave then moving out of sight.
This soon became a little routine for the two. His apartment would be lit the same hours as Ashe’s and more nights than not, they would send a friendly wave to each other. She had never actually met her insomnia-mate, nor had she even had a chance to speak with Him, but she couldn’t help but wonder about him. After all, it wasn’t often she found someone who shared the same problem as her. Maybe her nights wouldn’t be so long if she had someone to talk to during them? Still, the girl couldn’t just waltz over there and be like, Hey! I noticed you don’t sleep. Well, I don’t sleep either! Why don’t we both spend our not sleeping nights together? Yeah, that wasn’t weird at all…
Soon, she began to notice him on the outside world as well. Not only did she spot him in the window across her apartment, but her eyes would catch his silhouette passing by while working. At first, the girl had to look twice to make sure the lack of sleep wasn’t finally catching up to her and making her hallucinate. But there he was, walking past the window outside the little coffee shop she worked at. He seemed to have peered in a few times but never came in to greet her. It wasn’t like he had an obligation though. It just would’ve been nice to be able to put a name to the face she always waved too.
It seemed tonight was going to be another boring one. There were still quite a few hours left until morning and normal people would come alive again and here she was, plopped down on the couch staring at the TV but honestly not truly watching it. Ashe lifted her cup of coffee to her lips only to find it empty. Sighing, she stood, walking to the coffee maker and sighing again when she found it empty. She grabbed the container that she kept the coffee grounds in and opened it before having a slight heart attack to see it empty as well. Ashe would rather avoid going out in the city streets at 2 am, especially for something as simple as coffee.
Closing the container, Ashe turned around and leaned her back against the counter, unconsciously peering out the window. His lights were on and there he was, standing by the window hunched over as if picking something up. It was no surprise at this point. Her mind began to wonder how he maintained his awareness. It had to be something like coffee too, right? Her eyes lingered on him as she got lost in her thoughts and the next thing she knew, his eyes locked onto hers. Her body froze. She hadn’t meant to stare at him like a creeper and worse, he had just caught her doing it! Instead of lingering much longer, she sent him a smile and wave before rushing out of sight.
Not soon after she changed from her pajamas into something more presentable. Then headed out the door to go buy coffee at the 24-hour supermarket a few blocks away. Then, a thought struck her. This was it. Yes! This was her opportunity to talk to him! It was a legit reason. It couldn’t be too weird, considering their circumstances, right? He should understand the importance of coffee! Not only would it save her from walking in the streets at dark, she might finally be able to get his name!
After taking several moments of mulling it over, she finally decided to take the chance and headed out the door and into his apartment complex. After making sure that the apartment was his, she took a deep breath and knocked.