Dawn

The bed shakes. He wakes up slowly. His brow lifts up, then down. 'Huh?' His face is a million dollar question, with his eyes closed. The eyelids open ever so slightly, and his face now bears a puzzled look. He half sits up. Suddenly it hits him. He groans and falls back on the bed. He lies there motionless for a whole minute, and then rubs his eyes, with an annoyed expression. Then he pulls on his eyelids, feeling inaudible pops as the air rushes back in.

He turns to where she's sleeping. Her back faces him, she's in the foetal position. She seemed quite peaceful. He was amazed at how long she slept. Things were always simple for her. It was he who had to go and live a grinding life. Annoyance crept back on his face. How he wished he'd been born a woman. He sells his peace of mind and she hoards it in bed. He gets out of bed, the covers are tossed aside in a quick motion that doesn't ease his irritation. He stomps off to the bathroom.

***************************************

Suddenly her eyes fly open. Her face looks alarmed for a fraction of a second. She relaxes. A hard, dreamy look washes over her face. She turns over to where he's sleeping, the bed creaks. Still asleep, and still snoring. She resumes her earlier position, only this time she's hugging her knees. He begins to wake. She tries to enjoy the few moments of silence, that short peaceful waking period. The rest of the morning begins to play in her head. His crisp words. No eye contact. The criticism. A thump sounds behind her.

Her face darkens. She wonders how to change things. How to go back to happier times. In a few instants she dreams possibilities, her face calm. But his nature ruins every dream. Her face is of despair. He gets out of bed. She grimaces as she feels part of the tossed sheets hit her. The moment passes. His footsteps sound the beginning of another routine day. Her face turns bitter. She gets up, already the tiredness running through her body. She follows meekly.