Hibernating.

The lightbulb flared and burned out. I started, pushed myself back from
my computer screen and glanced at my watch. 4 am. Oh, *terrific*. And I
had a nine o'clock Classics lecture - which I'd *chosen* to join, I
reminded myself nastily. A mere four hours sleep was nothing between
friends, I replied airily. Damn right it was nothing, I snarled. It was
a nothing of sleep that was going to leave me *dead* tomorrow! You're
arguing with yourself and it's freaky, I reasoned. And it's cold. You
should probably go to sleep. We'll talk about this *later*, I promised,
and stumbled towards my bed.

It *was* cold, cold enough that I shivered even under the blankets and
tucked myself into a tight ball to try and keep at least the vital
organs warm. Drifting lazily in that pleasantly fuzzy state between
sleep and consciousness I listened to the rain spattering against my
window and heard my industrial sized water heater shudder into action.
The only nice things about the hall in winter were those heaters and we
jealously hoarded the heat from them. One day the entire heating system
had stopped for 13 hours and the students had marched on the hall
office. The management hadn't been too impressed, but they didn't rely
on those heaters like we did. Warmth, any warmth, was a priority. Hot
water bottles, scarfs, woollen jumpers, thermal underwear, you have it,
we craved it- and usually couldn't afford it.

The slow tocking of the heater was that of a maiden aunt scolding the
playful young raindrops on my windowpane, I reflected sleepily. Tick; go
to sleep. Tock; dream of summer. Tick; go to sleep. Tock; dream of
summer...

The next morning the rain had frozen on my window. A small flower was
etched among the fragile sheets of ice.

Author's note:

I'm *freezing*. Anyone got a warm coat they don't need?


The Sunburst Project, Week 2
http://www.chaoseed.com/btr/sbp/
3/23/00