“What time is it?”

 

I must have dozed off last night after Cocoa left. I woke up feeling disoriented and on the floor. When I went to stand up, my back began to ache. “Last time I sleep on the floor,” I mumble as I use my arms to straighten out my back.

 

It was early in the afternoon, already reaching on to 2:30 pm. I had been asleep for what I can imagine as 16 hours. It’s the longest I could ever remember sleeping. I took a look around the room to try and gather my senses, but ended up wobbling back and forth, unable to catch my balance. It felt as if I was drunk. Tipsy came rushing in the room after the second time I nearly fell over.

 

“Miss Random you must be more careful.”

 

“I’ll be fine, Tipsy,” I tell her waving my hand in the air. It’s not long after that I fall to my knees before reaching the door.

 

“What have I done Tipsy… I think I’ve hurt my relationship with Cocoa and I don’t know how to fix it. It’s not her fault my test results didn’t come back with anything, but at the same time I have no way to express how I feel or how I want to act. It’s like having no control over my body.”

 

I raised my hand to wipe away a tear that began to trickle down my cheek. It’s at this point I realize my whole face is moist, and that I must have been crying in my sleep.

 

“Even my hands are red and swollen. I must been having nightmares.”

 

“Come on, Miss Random, we must get you into a shower and some new clothes.”

 

Extending her legs, she lets me use her as a crutch to get to the bathroom, where she helped me turn on the shower.

 

“I’m going to go prepare your lunch and then set up clothes to be sent there,” she flicks her head to the counter, “I’ll be back in a bit. Try to relax.” Her words faded into the distance as she left the room, closing the door behind her.

 

Once the water heats up, I adjust the water pressure to a gentler setting and slowly step out of my old clothes. I then let the water splash down my body as I try to clear my mind. The water burns my hands a little, but I eventually get used to it.

 

Am I destined to become nothing? I think to myself. I’ve always been an over achiever, thinking I could excel in almost anything. But I guess when a computer set to giving you a future job can’t even generate one; it kind of throws you for a loop. Maybe my talents are too vast for a computer to decide. Whatever the case may be, it doesn’t matter. The smell of rigatoni with garlic sauce and meatballs soon permeates the room, and my stomach begins to growl. I know its rigatoni because that’s my favorite type of noodle. That and I haven’t eaten for over 24 hours, so I quickly wash, put on my blouse and jeans, and head toward the kitchen.

 

It’s already 3:30 pm when I look at the clock, and Tipsy was sitting down next to my meal on the counter.

 

“Thanks Tipsy, I’d be lost without you.” She purred in satisfaction.

 

I begin to shovel down the meal like I haven’t eaten in days, but it results in me feeling sick after the first few mouthfuls. My mind soon returns to the reality around me, and I begin to stare into my meal as if it was crystal ball telling me my future. When I start thinking of Cocoa I begin to lose my appetite. It’s the second time I’ve hurt her in the past few days, and I can’t quite forgive myself for it. Pushing the food aside, I step out of the kitchen and head toward the living room.

 

“Maybe something on the TV will help get my mind off of everything.”

 

I flip the television and it turns over to the news channel.

 

“We’re pleased to report that the oncoming storm that was going to pass through Hitomi has all but passed over us to the northeastern cities. We are not sure of the cause of this at this point in time, but we’re thankful that we were able to have a sunny weekend with our families. Other news states that there has been a shift in government power as of late, and we shall see changes affecting jobs worldwide, including us all in a positive way. There is nothing else to report at this time. Back to you, Sarah.”

 

Storms like that don’t just pass over. I turn the TV off and begin to feel depressed again. Nothing seems to be able to get me out of my mood, and even petting Tipsy can’t bring me back to my senses, no matter how warm the fur I’ve given her is.

 

“I’m heading back to my room, Tipsy. Lock the doors for me please.” I then get up and walk back toward my room, where I close the door and go back to the same position I’ve been in and after a few minutes, fall asleep.

 

I’m woken an hour later by another loud knock on the door. After a few minutes it disappears. It must be Cocoa again.

 

Much like before, she took the way in I’ve shown her before, and reaches my door, but I’m still in no mood to answer, and Tipsy is outside.

“Tipsy, move,” she demanded, in no mood for games this time. Tipsy was reluctant, but moved like last time. Maybe even a little faster than before.

 

“Random, you don’t have to listen, but hear me out. I was at the hot cocoa shop today and overheard the principal and Mrs. Natsume talking about the test.”

 

At first I wasn’t listening to what she had to say, but when she mentioned the test, I lifted my head and began to pay closer attention, being fixated on the word "test".

 

“Not under the principal’s order, but of her own freewill, she removed your results and gave you a blank page in return. She was explaining it was some test she wanted to give you to see if you could create your own future and not rely on a machine to tell you the best choice.”

 

After hearing the news, I’m frozen to the spot. I DID have results!

My blood begins to boil at the thought of Mrs. Natsume erasing my results. What test could she have for me? My mind races and I begin to get lost in thought, leaving Cocoa alone.

 

“Random…” I mumble. She still won’t come out, leaving me out here alone with Tipsy.

 

I decided to wait an hour in hopes that she’ll open the door, but nothing. Sitting there alone and in silence was maddening and making me drowsy. Since her home was closer than mine to school, it didn’t matter if I fell asleep or not, which was apparently so an hour later, when I finally let sleep take me away.

 

Several hours passed before I came back from the depths of my mind. “Cocoa!” the first words I muttered in hours.

 

I rush over to the door and find her leaning against the wall, fast asleep. “Cocoa…” I whisper.

 

“She waited outside for you,” Tipsy informs me.

 

Without saying a word, I sit down next to her and put an arm around her. She stirs a little then leans against me and whispers, “Random, it’s nice to actually see you again,” before falling back asleep.

 

Knowing I won’t be able to move until she wakes up, I eventually fall asleep with her, happy to finally know the truth behind my results.