[Survey] Cory's Safe Space

It had been another long day as I dragged my feet up the glass, spiraling stairs, trying to blink and rub the blur out of my vision.  I gripped the stair rail tightly, pausing at the top to widen my eyes.  Slowly, two blurred and neon green rectangles conjoined into a single form; my bedroom door.  With it, everything else began to snap into place, and the swaying grew still.  I let out a sigh, knowing that this clarity would only last so long as I didn’t move. 

I stood at the top of the stairs on a metal vent that stabbed cold, diamond-shapes into my paw pads.  A sensation I hated, and under normal circumstances I would jump over the grate that formed the balcony outside my bedroom and would burst straight through my bedroom door.  However, the grate was the least of my problems tonight.  If I wasn’t so tired, maybe I could enjoy the view—for once.

“The sooner I go to bed, the sooner I’ll feel better…” I spoke loudly to myself, a bad habit I had acquired when I was alone.

Why?

Well…

As I stood at the top of the stairs, looking over the rail at the wide expanse of my ship, I could hear my own voice mutter back at me—it had bounced off the cafeteria end of the ship, then made it’s way back by hurtling over the arcade machines, sliding past the zipline, and even rode a few rollercoasters before winding back up the stairs to say, “I’ll feel better… better… better.”

My ears twitched at the sound, and I gave a little smile. 

See?  I wasn’t alone.

Nothing to be afraid of.

I took a deep breath and willed myself to push the bedroom door open, stepping into a dome-shaped room at the top of my ship.  It was pitch black, with a minor exception—the stars and moon that sent a cold light down from the glass ceiling. 

I ran my paw along the walls, bumping into things until I stumbled upon the light switch that filled the room with a warm glow.  After a long day working in a noisy, bright, neon-colored and flashy environment, it was wonderful to retreat back into the quiet warmth of my room.  It had a more rustic and cabin sort of atmosphere to it, with bookshelves covered in various volumes, wood furniture, metal wall decorations, a few potted plants and vines, and last but not least—a hammock of sturdy netting.  It was a perfect resting place to read and enjoy some peace and quiet after—or even before—a busy day.

It wasn’t always easy living in the same place where you work.  But, there were a few perks.  Some would brag about the travel time being shorter, or the fact that you didn’t have to worry about sleeping through your alarm as much, but in my case… well… let’s just say that when you run an amusement park spaceship that no one is going to bat an eye at the fact that you have a ball pit in your bedroom.

The ball pit was full of orange, yellow, and white balls to match the fall and forest décor of the bedroom.  Furthermore, I had it installed in a corner, where I then hung my hammock.  Around the corner, I had hung stringed lights. 

My shoulders drooped as I stared at the corner wistfully. 

“Almost there…” I muttered aloud, dropping on all fours to grab the plug for the stringed lights.  My jabs at the outlet missed more than I am willing to admit, “just gotta get ready for bed...  You’re almost…” a yawn broke through my jaw before I could finish, “…there…”

The stringed lights flashed on.  I blinked at them several times before lumbering back towards the doorway—still on all fours.  Then I sat. 

I stared at the wall.

“What… am I doing?”

I turn my head around slowly, but my eyes can’t keep track.  They are flicking forward or else lagging behind.  I see the corner.

“Oh yeah!” My head snaps back towards the wall, and I groan, closing my eyes tight. 

My head spins in the darkness. 

Why is sleep so demanding? 

I opened one eye this time and stand up on my hind feet again in order to reach the light switch.  With a flick, darkness falls over the room, but now the ball pit and the hammock are well lit.  I smile, dragging my feet across the floor to the very edge of the pool.

I let myself flop forward, but not into the hammock.  No, that was for an afternoon nap or a rainy day read.  At night, I flopped straight into the pit.  I could hear and feel the rustle as air-filled plastic bounced against one another.  Buried deep inside the pool, faint light shafts made their way through the colored globes.  I could stretch out wide, or curl up into a ball, and no matter how a laid I felt warm and surrounded. 

I was safe. 

No one could find me here.