Listening to the birds outside was enough to wake me up. Annoying little creatures. Why were they so happy this early in the morning? What was there to sing about? Rent was due. Inflation was a thing. The world was a dumpster fire. And yet, these feathery menaces were out here giving a full-blown concert.

Cracking my eyes open, I already knew it was too damn early. The kind of early that made me contemplate every life choice that led me to this moment. Laying there with my eyes closed, last night’s events resurfaced in my mind like a bad credit card statement. Groaning, I cringed at the memory of confessing my frustrations to her.