slightly heavier breathing and hardly a movement
my sluggish canine stealing every bit of my space
distant planes rumbling across the stars
the hum of intermittent cars two blocks away
the slamming of the neighbor’s door
the padded footsteps of a nocturnal beast
red alarm clock numbers glaring at me

everything to keep me from my dreams, my peace
everything to keep me trapped awake
in this nightmare of my current reality.