The Writer’s Corner features poetry, essays, short stories, satire and various fiction and non-fiction from SCAD Atlanta students. To submit your own work for the Writer’s Corner, email features@scadconnector.com.
‘My Shattered Dreams’ by Helena Aidoo-Morrison
So here I am, in my custom-made Gucci gown, clutching my two beautiful plaques, enjoying the applause as I’m about to give my long-awaited speech at the Grammys then beep beep beep! What the what?? There goes my annoying alarm waking me from my deep, wonderful slumber.
Aarrrgghh!! Cursing under my breath, I wonder who invented this damn thing that keeps cutting my fame short. But, I wake up anyway to get my day started. And you know at this point I HAVE to find out who is responsible for this device that has shattered my dreams. My one-time stardom that can only happen in my dreams. My once-in-a-lifetime fame. My proudest moment being on that Grammy stage. My carefully written speech … ????? Nooooo!!!!!
Antoine Redier!!!! The adjustable mechanical alarm clock was invented in 1847 by Antoine Redier! And according to his biography, he “did not enjoy sleeping and was deeply envious of people who did.”
*insert wide eyes and angry face here *
It takes me two whole hours just to fall asleep only for Redier’s envy to cut this sleep even shorter — oh what exasperation!
Why hasn’t anyone invented a device to make one fall asleep or perhaps even sleep longer? There was a time when I’d fall asleep even before my head touched the pillow and boy, oh boy, weren’t those days golden?
Whether it’s just a phase or a matter of old age catching up with me, insomnia is no fun and the worst part is to finally fall asleep, be deep in slumber dreaming about being knighted by the Queen of England and then ding dong ding dong … like WTF! Trust me, counting sheep has not helped. Neither has going to bed early because I can go to bed early and still lay there for hours. Even imagining, while lying in bed, living a fairy-tale life where everything is perfect and my prince charming is leaning in for that kiss to turn me from a frog back into a princess has not done the trick.
To be fair, I inevitably fall victim to countless distractions before bed, considering the ease of access to fun gadgets and the worst of all – social media! That’s the culprit — social media. But if only there would be one, just one ad, that’ll pop up on my social media feed every day at 11 p.m. enticing me to leave that damn phone and go to bed … oh how helpful that’ll be! Although I’ll get into bed and not fall immediately asleep, I think I’ll be better off in bed than on my phone anyway.
So, boys and girls, don’t let staying on your phones too long prevent you from a good night’s sleep. Besides, insomnia is unhealthy. Go to bed early so the alarm clock does not shatter your dreams, and pretty please, leave Redier out of this – I’m trying to do the same!
