Sleep Deprived.

Children who became orphans because of starvation were sent to an orphanage and were taken care of by the government. They were all alone. Well, they weren’t literally alone, there were other orphans too but they didn’t really have time to communicate, or even sleep. All they did was work; day and night. “You will have to work 24 hours, 7 days a week.” His voice still ringed in all the orphans’ ears.  There were only 10 children in the orphanage; that’s why they had to work all the time. When the children’s parents were deceased, they were sent to school and if they fail, they were sent to an orphanage. The children looked like zombies; their faces were as pale as a ghost and their eyes were circled with dark rings. 

After Andrea’s parents starved to death, she was taken by the government to the orphanage. Andrea’s high hopes suddenly burst into tears. She worked continuously for 2 months but then she was fed up; she carried her almost deceased body to the master’s office. She suddenly felt like the earth had stopped turning. There was no more oxygen in the world. Fire was rapidly burning her and turning her to ashes.

She knocked the door. Once. No answer. Twice. No answer. Three times. 

“Yes?” His voice sent shivers down her spine, flinging away all the bravery she had. She jolted backwards from his office. She heard the office’s door open and close. “What do you want?” With all her power, she gazed up at him. He had a very stern look on his face.  

“Can… I have a break?” Silence. Her heart was beating as fast as lightening and she could almost hear her heart beating in her chest. The master’s lips cracked into a smile.

“Are you joking, honey?” He simply said. Andrea tried to swallow the lump in her throat, she felt sweat beads forming on her forehead. She felt a bitter acidic taste in her throat, it felt like a tingling and burning sensation. The master just looked at her blankly.

“Just 5 minutes of sleep, sir.” Fire was lit in the master’s eyes and his face was flushed with anger. An enormous hand came out of nowhere and pressed Andrea on the hard ground. Everything happened so swiftly; a hand coming out of nowhere and slapping Andrea on her face. Andrea crying with red stained cheeks. Everyone in the orphanage stared with owl wide eyes. Since the establishment of the orphanage 10 years ago, it was never this noiseless and active. Sleep was suddenly swept away from the eyes of all the children.