The Sleeper

Once upon a time, there was a girl who slept all day and night.

She slept all the time, always.

Her face had a pallor of steel.

Her eyes were purple and washed with the imagery of dreams.

Every dream clung to her like a new set of clothes. When she woke, dreams hung on her like little bits of ice or snow.

The girl who slept lived in the kitchen of her family's old home.

All her friends had gone from where she lived,

And all but one was left-her faithful pet squirrel.

Her neighbors passed the sleeping girl's house every day. In the bright sunshine, they held parasols of rainbow colors and shiny colored boots. They asked, Who is the girl who lives there?

Why does she sleep every day?

Sometimes they tried to peer in the windows, but they were saddened by what they saw, and sometimes horrified-

The girl was sleeping in a cocoon of blankets, and her face, covered in gray pallor, was from many months and years of solemnness.

This went on for many months and years, life, bright and beautiful, changing around the purple house, but the girl inside continued to sleep.

Finally, one day, a brave deliveryman was tasked to deliver something to the house. The parcel was tied with twine and had no markings, other than to say it was meant to go to this house, the purple house.

The delivery man was very frightened because his boss told him if he didn't confirm delivery of every package, he would be fired.

The man only heard rumors of the sleeping woman who lived in the house,

He approached the house, the woman was fast asleep in one of her deeper sleeps, and her pet squirrel could be seen from the window eating the nuts she had laid out for him while sleep walking.

Then, something happened which was surely an amazing event-as the woman slept a spider-her longtime friend-although she didn't know it, began to tickle the mustache above her lip.

The spider tickled her lip until she awoke, and

right as she opened her eyes, caked as they were with the threads of sleep,

There she saw the delivery man. She saw his blue cap and his handsome stubble, and she saw his friendly demeanor, and something leaped in her heart and mind that had not leapt in a long time. She brushed some of the cakes off her arms and legs and

feebly floated towards the door.

When she opened the door, her eyes were covered in threads, and her hair was matted and almost gray from dust.

Hello, she said, the words squeaked out. She reached her hand into the light...

and stepped into the sun.

When the sun hit her dress, it was illuminated purple sheer fabric looked like something in a light show-soft and billowy. The sun pierced her eyes-which were so tender, from being in the dark for so long.

The delivery man could see that despite being caked in the remnants of sleep, the girl had quite pretty features. Although his first though was of her health, she did not look very healthy after being asleep for so many years.

and the delivery man even wondered if she might need to go to a hospital.

Miss, are you alright? He asked.

The woman shuddered in the bright rays of sunlight.

Yes...yes..I am fine, she said.

Is there anything I can do for you? He said, catching her arm as she stumbled.

No, she said, quickly repenting her earlier friendliness,

no....she thought of the cruelty of the outside world, all the reasons why she began to sleep, many years ago.

A dark passage fell over her eyes.

I just need more sleep.

The man was very horrified.

Knowing, she did not need anymore sleep-she had been asleep for at least 12 years, according to the town's bylaws and registries.

Surely miss, he said, you do not need to sleep today.

Why not just spend this one day awake?

he asked her.

She looked down. it was hard to make decisions; her brain was not well used, having been devoted to vibrant, fantastical dreams.

Her mind's gears were rusty, and old.

They moved like little cranks.

And her body was fairly weak, although she did a fair amount of martial arts in her dreams, so it wasnt quite as weak as one would think.

Miss, said the delivery man,

just spend one day awake.

We miss you.

outside, a crowd of nosy and concerned neighbors had gathered. Miss, we miss you.

They said. Let us help you. You need to see a doctor about all this sleeping.

No! She said, I won't go. I won't go to the doctor. He will only tell me how ugly and strange I am.

The crowd looked at the woman in awe, aghast.

Miss, how long have you been asleep? Said the deliveryman.

For many years...she said. My father died in this house, and my friends and family left, after mom and pop were gone, I put my head down on a silk pillow and it felt so soft. I never wanted that feeling to end.

The man looked at her and the crowd spoke in hushed whispers, finally someone yelled out, "Come into the sun for a bit and see how you feel!".

The woman pushed through the door and felt the hot but gentle sun on her face. The air was arid and she could see why some people held parasols to keep the sun from her eyes.

The delivery man took her hand, which was like a little piece of gelatin pie, so white and pale.

He led her out into the sun, and down the wooden steps of the house.

The woman looked back at her house, so purple, so old, cobwebs hung from the roof, many birds and other animals had laid waste to the foundation, and to the shed.

The sun beat down like a clock, urging her forward. She took one step after the other, -into the light.