Fifteen Minutes of Sleep

I stare at the screen of my computer

Unable to think

Unable to process

The fact that it's

3 am

And I'm not done

With my work for the night

But I turn my head slowly

To look at the bed

That mocks me with

Its pillows and blankets

And comfort and warmth

And promise of a coming morning

But I stare at the work before me

That needs to get done

And let my hand move slowly

And trance-like over the page

I blink

And it's

4 am

And I'm not done

With my work for the night

My eyelids are heavy

And my paper is near blank

But I can't sleep

Not if I want to succeed

So I let my hand move slowly

And trance-like over the page

Writing random answers

To insignificant questions

So I can get by

Then I look at the clock

And it's

5 am

And I tell myself

That sleep isn't important

I don't need it

Not unless I want to fail

I keep working

My back is stiff

Against the chair

My eyes sting

As they threaten to close

The clock says it's

6 am

Worries for the next day

Burn in my chest

And pound in my head

Telling me everything will fail

And suddenly

Every damn problem hits me at once

Driving me insane

Tears stream down my face

As my alarm rings

The one that was supposed to wake me up

But the problem is

I haven't even fallen asleep

7 am

I tell myself I'm crazy

Is school really worth the pain

I throw the papers into my bag

And print the documents

For the next day

I take a shower

And get out

7:45 am

Collapsing onto the bed

I shut my eyes

As my youngest sister goes

To catch her bus

And the other

Brushes her hair

My alarm blares again

8 am

I sit up reluctantly

Fifteen minutes of sleep

Eight hours of school

Not a big deal

I do it everyday

Maybe that's why

I'm falling apart