Later; sitting on my couch with every light in the apartment burning brightly, I worked on some slightly charred soup and crackers. The TV was on but I was deep in thought about George and Betty.

My phone made a loud 'ding' and I jumped. It was a text message. It was Brian. He must've just got home from work. We have been dating for a few months and I still don't know where it's going. He works at a garage doing body work and he stays until the job is done. Sometimes he goes pretty late.

-ALL DONE. HOME NOW.

I was glad to hear from him. I was hoping he felt like talking so I texted back quickly.

-HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

-OKAY. BUT TOMORROW'S GONNA BE A BITCH

-WHY?

-3 JOBS TO GET DONE BEFORE LUNCH

-THAT SUCKS

-YEAH

-WANNA CALL ME?

-NOT TONIGHT. I'M BEAT. TOMORROW FOR SURE.

-OKAY :)

-GOODNIGHT

-NIGHT

I considered telling him what happened but he would just say I was crazy. Maybe I am. If so, it's my mom's fault. She drives me there. And tomorrow I have to drive her to her appointment. Imagine a woman in this day and age, not knowing how to drive. I guess she never got around to it because she grew up in a large city and walked everywhere. She says she doesn't care to learn now. And it's a real pain. I have to run her all over. If her friend Grace can't, that is.

I don't like to drive much myself though. I usually walk everywhere I can. My car sits in the back lot most of the time. It's a big old Buick and I can't afford to be driving it everywhere. It was my grandfather's car and I like driving it but, gas is so expensive.

I turned off the TV, and I turned off the lights in the kitchen and living room. I finished getting ready for bed. I made the bed as comfortable as I could by fluffing my pillows and straightening my sheets. I did a few sit-ups and pushups. I even set an alarm. I turned out the last lights and disrobed. I climbed into bed. I pulled the covers up and turned over a few times to get settled.

The clock's little red numbers stared at me in the dark. I watched for the minute to change. I waited for it. 10:35 and then 10:36. I wrestled with my pillow a bit. I looked at the clock again. it was still 10:36. Oh, wait a minute, I thought. I forgot to pour myself some water for if I woke up later. I got up and went to the kitchen. I got out a glass and filled it. I took a tiny sip. 'There', I thought.

Then I took the glass into the bedroom and set it on my nightstand. I went through my routine of getting into bed again. The clock was showing 10:39. I wondered if Brian remembered we are going to take my mom out for lunch on Sunday. I wondered if she remembered. I wondered if he'd be okay with going to that crappy little diner she likes.

Then more thoughts came. And I remembered that I forgot to say good-night to Houdini, my cat. And I wondered if she had enough water. So I got up again and checked her dish. Good thing I did because it was only half full and that cat drinks a lot. I never saw a cat that drank so much water.

Lying in bed again, I heard that awful noise in the pipes. It was especially loud that night. I wondered if I should call Mr. Saunter to let him know. Then I thought he would be mad I waited to call. I looked up at the clock. 10:46.

This was my sickness. And it never ended. When I did finally get to sleep that night which was well after midnight, I woke up at 2am, curled in a ball on my stoop by the basement door. I guess any normal person would've been scared by this. But it was normal for a sleepwalking insomniac like me.

I just got up and went upstairs. I put my robeon and began making my coffee. I found that crossword puzzle I was working onand turned on the TV. So began another day in the life of RunaWalker.