ECLIPSE

VIII

Eclipse Smith

I laid on a warm surface. I am still half-asleep, still not in my right mind when I felt something picking on my forehead and heard a squawk from a bird.

The squawking and the picking finally woke me up to consciousness.

“W-What?” I said, feeling confused.

I was shocked to see a raven and then I realized that it is the one that keeps on squawking and picking on my forehead with its beak. I think it's trying to wake me up.

I am confused on why a raven is in my room but then I look around. Scanned the surroundings and I let out a gasp when I realized that all through the night, I slept here! On the roof!

I looked up and see that the sky is turning bright yellow, showing that the sun is slowly coming up. I looked at the other side of the roof, I see that it is now bathed with sunlight.

The raven is squawking loudly than usual and it's starting to pick on my hand. I didn't mind it anymore since I am too busy moving to hurriedly get down.

I glanced at the terrace and gasped when I see the sunlight, now bathing the railings and the floor. If I get down, there is no way that I won't be touched by the light.

I stayed at the edge of the roof, staring in a trance, not exactly knowing what to do. But, this just make things worst. I forced myself to come back into my state of mind but I can't think for another way. I would have to take this risk.

I climbed down despite the light touching my skin. I felt the warmth then just a second later, pain spreading through my skin. I hurriedly get in the house and go straight to my bedroom.

I leaned my back on the door and I felt my heart beating fast. I focused on my breathing. I raised my arm and looked at the skin that was been touched by the light. My skin turned faintly red.

I slowly sat down on the floor while holding my arm. It's just a little contact of the light but I know it could affect me, just seeing the color of my skin made me anxious.

I put my arms on my knees and put my head over for a while. I'm trying to calm and convince myself that it is going to be just fine. However, it's just a small light and besides it's still early in the morning, it wouldn't bring so much an effect to me, right?

Then I thought about the bird; the raven. Who squawked and picked on my forehead that made me wake up. I imagine that if not for the raven, I would've still slept there and just woke up when the sunshine is now touching my skin.

The raven. I remember that I also saw a raven, the other day. Is it the same raven as the one that I saw? Why'd it tried to wake me up? Is it a natural behaviour for ravens to do that?

I never mind the questions in my head regarding the raven. I just silently thanked that because of the bird, I woke up early enough to save myself.

Next time, I should set an alarm. If ever I fall asleep again, at least the alarm could wake me up.

I leaned my head on the door and let out an air, making my hair swish. I stood up and went to my bed to find my phone but I remembered that I brought it with me on the roof and when I came back here, I didn't bring anything.

I slapped myself and put my face in the pile of pillows in annoyance. I am such a big clumsy elephant! My phone can get overheated because of the sun and possibly it would be broken, I can never use it anymore!

After minutes of anxiety and regret, I decided to move on and just come back at night on the roof, to get my phone. Hopefully, it isn't broken by then.