A locked bird in a cage, 

bound to fate

shackles I can’t escape

Tick tock, goes the grandfather clock striking twelve

The day finally arrived 

The minute hand ticks onto twelve

emptiness gnawed at me, beckoning me. Crooning at me. 

Finally, came the day, 

A Monday

Shackles clattered against the cage, rattling loudly

I stared at the wall blankly

the hourglass on the nightstand cracked

sand seeped...