Chapter 8 - Sleep

He tried to focus on the blackboard. He felt dizzy and everything wobbled. His eyelids were heavy. The lulling sound of his math teacher's voice was a chanting choir of silent background music. His head was resting on his hand, pen behind the ear, ready for use. But he could not concentrate. Everytime he tried to do so, he felt like being sucked into drowsiness even more. He just wanted to escape this classroom und snuggle into his blankets at home, never standing up again. His sleepy brain reminded him that he had to go to the toilet and eat. Oh, yeah, he thought slowly, his head sinking deeper, closer to the table. Well, crap. Once again he struggled to keep his eyes on the chalk letters up the front, but then, after they danced a wobbly choreography from Swan's Lake, he gave up. He closed his eyes, very careful not to fall asleep. He already had been warned twice not to fall asleep during the lessons, but he just couldn't resist anymore.

It had always been this difficult for him to be awake. Especially staying awake for more than 5 hours per period. He had taken many medical examinations for his unnormal high amount sleep, but he was in perfect health, except for the fact that he lacked rest. He needed about 12 to 15 hours of sleep per day, otherwise he might fall asleep during the day. Last night he had to rewrite an essay because he had spilled coffee on the original one. Instead of his usual 13 hours he only had had 8. 8 was the critical line; under 8 hours and he was in dire risk of randomly napping away. Anywhere. Anytime. The teachers did not understand his situation. He was not ill - his doctors couldn't do anything about that.

He yawned. Then he slowly raised his hand.

"Yes?", asked his teacher.

"I'm not feeling well. I feel like I might throw up", he said.

"Then go to the toilet. Jon, accompany him, please", the teacher said, slightly worried. Both students rose and headed for the door.

"If you want to, I can send you home", added the teacher. That was exactly what he had wanted him to say. He smirked, then yawned.

"It might be better, yes."