I opened the door and pushed the vacuum cleaner in.
29.
I wouldn't have to vacuum again for at least a week.
That was the rhythm I had gotten myself into.
What to do until 30.
I didn't have a lot of plans besides vacuuming. Maybe I should've planned further into the future.
I looked down at my phone. I could waste the rest of the time on that.
It didn't make me feel good about myself though, or I wouldn't have used the words "wasting time."
I stared up at the glowing red 29, as if staring hard enough at it could make it go faster. I was
willing myself into the future.
Bing. 30.
I startled a bit. Did I drift off? Was I sleeping? Zoning out? Should I open the door?
Did I want to stay where I was?
As I stood there trying to figure out what I wanted to do with myself,
the opportunity passed me by. I could feel myself descending into the depths again. I had allowed 30 to completely escape me.
1 was coming again.
I made up my mind. I opened the door.
The vacuum cleaner was nowhere to be seen. Did I open the wrong door? Sunlight streamed in through the glass windows. Should I go out? It would be a nice change of pace. But what about my vacuum cleaner? Don't I need to find it? What if someone took it?
What if I need it again but hadn't taken the time to find it?
Bing. 2.
Crap,
I missed my chance again. Other people opened the door from the other side, and walked through.
I didn't remember inviting them.
Are they supposed to be here? Should I ask them to leave? Am I the one who is in the wrong place? Maybe they took my vacuum cleaner!
Bing.
Whoa, 15 already? I zoned out again! Some of the people had already left. Others were leaving now, only to be replaced by
more coming in.
I really should be vacuuming again. Shouldn't I?
I wasted enough time already.
29 again.
Wow, a whole cycle went by and
I'd done nothing but live inside my own head! I'm definitely going out.
I opened the door.
Wait.
There it is!Right
where I remember it!
What happened?Did somebody return it?Should I vacuum
while I still have the chance, and cancel my other plans?
Bing.
The number above the door glowed a nice warm yellow now.
31.
But I was on
this side of the door.
It would be 29 for me,
as long I stayed on this side.