Through the Ashes

*Beep Beep* *Beep Beep* *Beep* I swipe right on my watch to silence the alarms' relentless sounds. I blearily rub the sleep from my eyes while sitting up on the edge of my bed. Man, I slept horribly last night. I stretch my arms out and realize I'm pretty sore. Must have tossed and turned all night. These night terrors are killing me. I look around my small efficiency apartment. The little bathroom a few feet from the end of my bed, the small living space just to my right, my kitchen/dining area that's just big enough for the appliances and my two-person table. It's not much, but it's mine. I've got a long day ahead of me; school, then straight to work. With the lack of sleep, I'd better make some coffee or I might not make it through my classes. Letting out a long sigh, I stand and head to the kitchen, grabbing a coffee pod and a travel mug from the cupboard to start. Shoot, I forgot the dishes again. I've gotta do them tonight. I head to the bathroom to splash some cool water on my face. I gotta wake myself up. I grab the towel that hangs next to the sink to dry my face off and look up into my lifeless blue eyes. Woah! I look like crap. Too bad I can't wipe these dark circles away. Guess I'm heading to school looking like the living dead, ha. I set the towel back down and look at my watch. 7:10am flashes brightly across the screen. Crap, I must have slept through the first alarm. No time to shower today. I hastily brush my teeth and sneer at the thick tangles of dark hair that mock me in the mirror. Throwing my hair into a disheveled bun, I headed back into the room to grab some clean boxers and socks. I opened the blinds to see if it snowed last night. Of course, it's still snowing. Ugh. I throw some jeans and a black sweater on before heading to the kitchen to throw a splash of cream in my mug, cap it, and grab my coat off the back of the chair. Throwing on my coat, I pick up my backpack and head out the door. Snow is falling on the overcrowded streets of New Haven Harbor. Despite the beautiful flakes floating in the air, there is only a slight chill. The streets are flooded with people bundled up in coats and scarves, flowing in and out of buildings in the hectic hustle and bustle of an early Monday morning. I pull at my jacket as I make my walk to school. If this snow keeps up, I'm gonna have to get some bus passes for work. As I head down the sidewalk, the world around me grows brighter and brighter, it begins to impair my vision. Moving through the crowded walkway, I catch a glimpse of an alleyway and push my way through the people until I reach the opening, pushing myself against the cool brick wall as I brace myself for the vision to take control. As the white light envelops me, I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Everything goes quiet. No dogs barking on their morning walks with their owners, no children laughing and talking with their parents. Just silence. I open my eyes, blinking a few times to adjust to this differing reality. The snow is still falling, but there is no sign of anyone else on the streets. Keep breathing, feel the brick behind you, there's coolness on your fingertips, bring yourself back. It's so hot. God, it's so hot. Remember the falling snow, it's still winter, the bricks are coarse and cold, the snow is still falling. I reach my hand up to catch a snowflake in a feeble attempt to bring myself back to reality, but the ember within burns my hand. I dropped my hand back to the bricks as I realized the snow has once again turned to ash. I don't dare look out at the city, just like every other vision, I know it's on fire. Buildings burning, car explosions, screams. Oh God please don't let me hear their screams this time. I can't. I looked down and see small piles of ash forming along the alley. No. It's snow. It's not ash. Please, stop. I reached down to touch the small pile near my left foot, only to see the pavement split. It cracks and splinters off down the alley, allowing the pyroclastic flow of the Earth's magma to mix with ash and tar. That's when the screaming starts. Hundreds, thousands of people screaming. Stop, STOP! It's so loud, please, stop. And the light takes over again. "Hey." I'm shaking. It's so cold I'm shaking. Wait, no. Someone is shaking me? Yeah, someone is shaking me. "Hey kid, wake up!" I slowly begin to open my eyes and wrap my arms around myself. I'm so cold. Cold? My eyes shoot open and I sit upright. I see a strange woman standing over me. I don't recognize her. "Hey, hey, take it easy kid. Are you okay? I saw you fall. What happened?" "Yeah, I'm fine, just slipped is all" I respond curtly as I begin to pull myself up from the ground. "Here, let me help you" the woman says, offering me her hand. I stand up and brush myself off, pulling my coat tighter around me once more. "I'm fine I said, thanks, and I'm not a kid" I say as I walk away, back down the main street, away from the alley, and the concerned looks of a stranger.