Bill’s descent

Bill started his Tuesday like he started every Tuesday in his life.

He woke up about 20 minutes before his alarm, spent the next 15 minutes dreading both getting up and the shattering clangs of his alarm, and then–just before the alarm blew its top–he scramble-rolled to the bedside dresser and killed the alarm.

Then, he sat upright on the side of the bed, blinked at nothing in particular, and steeled himself for the day.