At last, Labor Day had arrived. For most people, it was just another day that extended the weekend by 24 hours. For Jessica and Ryan Valina, though, it was a reprieve they hadn’t enjoyed since New Years. For once, they didn’t have to wake up at five in the morning just to beat the traffic. They could actually sleep in on a Monday and catch up on some badly-needed rest.
That had been their plan for the past six weeks. Unfortunately, it had not gone as well as they’d hoped.
“Ryan,” said Jessica restlessly.
“Yes, Jessica?” her husband replied.
“Are you as wide awake as me, right now?”
“That depends,” Ryan said. “Are your eyelids fighting to stay open?”
“They have been for the past half-hour…at least,” she groaned.
“Then yeah, I’d say I am that awake.”
Ryan sounded every bit as frustrated as she was. She’d been lying on her back, staring at the ceiling, trying to will herself back to sleep. It was no use. Looking over towards her husband, who was on his side facing away from her, she saw someone who needed that extra sleep every bit as much as her.