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Chapter 4: Late Hours

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Days blur now. Can't remember when home.

Office chair becomes bed. Desk becomes life.

New project today. Dog food ad. Happy puppy needed.

Type words. "Puppy eating food. Looks happy."

Image appears. Dog face wrong. Eyes too human.

Fix eyes. Now tail weird. Fix tail. Now fur wrong.

Bob left hours ago. Clock says midnight. Still clicking.

Window reflects face. Don't recognize self.

Eyes sunken now. Skin looks gray.

Calendar shows Tuesday. Started Sunday morning.

Lost track completely. Time means nothing.

Desk drawer has crackers. Eat without tasting.

Water from bathroom. Tastes like metal.

Back hurts. Ignore it. Pain not important.

Phone rings. Girlfriend again. Let it ring.

Only screen matters. Only perfect image counts.

Type more words. "Normal puppy. Happy. Eating."

New image. Better dog. Still wrong somehow.

Cleaning crew comes. Mops floor. Looks worried.

"You okay?" Woman asks. "Very late now."

Nod. Don't speak. Keep typing. Keep fixing.

Woman leaves. Lights dim. Building quiet.

Just me. Just screen. Just clicking.

Fingers feel numb. Keep typing anyway.

Keyboard letters fading. Some missing now.

Press harder. Type faster. Must beat tiredness.

Eyes sting when blink. Don't blink then.

Screensaver starts. Panic rises. Move mouse quickly.

Dog image returns. Seem to hear bark.

Just imagination. Just tired mind playing.

Stretch neck. Bones crack loud.

Building makes strange sounds at night.

Pipes hiss. Walls creak. Floor hums.

Or maybe just hearing things.

Coffee cup empty. Make new cup.

Break room dark. Coffee tastes burnt.

Better than nothing. Need to stay awake.

Dog image stares back. Eyes follow me.

Not possible. Must be tired. Must be seeing things.

Type again. "REGULAR DOG. NORMAL EYES."

New image. Dog smiles wrong. Teeth human-like.

Keep trying. Keep clicking. Night deepens.

Building empty. Air feels thick. Screen only light.

Chair creaks. Sounds like whisper.

Thought hear name called. Turn around.

Nobody there. Building empty. Just echoes.

Phone screen lights up. Another message.

"Coming tomorrow if no answer."

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