Q: Holy crap. It's COLD!

In this pitch black space, my body felt heavily bound to…a chair! A lamp came on and had its glare directed at me. I blinked in reflex, for I am no aggressive person. Ah, here we go again.

“YW, we need to talk. Nothing serious, but a certain post last year tells me that you failed the Resolution course big time. What is with this 25% score? I have no words for this abomination.”

“Then sing it, friend. Don’t have to be perfect, the world today digs songs like that.”

“Cheeky I see. We’ll see how long that attitude of you will last. It certainly will not take you far.”

“I have yet to travel on a plane this year. I know what you’re saying. No money lah friend.”

“What?! You could have gone to North Ko-”

“Okinawa or Kenya would be lovely. Beats the snowstorm any day.”

 “Ahem. You could have gone to Japan for all I care. But I am more concerned over this other issue. You have been seen at scores of places with a shady fellar.”

“Hmm? Don’t recall going anywhere with just one person. O wait, maybe I did. Mainly VK. You know we went to like Philly, Otakon, and that one crab shack over the summer. Wait, you mean my roommate. She’s harmless. Most medical students are. We both know that.”

“I am talking about a more abstract presence.”

“Oh…I am sorry. Procrastination was a splendid company. We should have all hung out together. We like dished great meals, rowed the boat, talked about anime and lik-”

I stopped. Clearly, I don’t do well with interrogations, especially not in the light of jealousy.

“So you like hanging out with Procrastination now? What am I? Just some convenient tool you use to brag to your cohorts? Huh?”

Are those tears?

“Chill, Progress. I admit I have abandoned you unnecessarily and I’m sorry. Wait, I take that back. Give me till the end of January and I’ll set things right again. I promise.”

“You promise?”

I nodded my head. “The ropes can go now. I have more to say.”

With the restraints undone, Progress watched me as I looked myself in the mirror. Consciousness can really bite; these eye bags are consequences of sleepless nights. I don’t look anymore happier with myself. Nothing has changed. If there’s one thing I realized, year 25 should not suck. It need not suck.  

“Bear with me for now. I am struggling to understand what I want for my future. Sometimes I have no answers for these questions. I feel beat down and left out as time races on.”

“Sure, but remember to bring me out once in a while okay?”

A smile needs no words to explain. It is a realization to doing the right things.

Behold,
Vonnie S.