twenty-two | first draft

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Cooper lays in his bed, staring at the bright red numbers on the alarm clock next to him

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Cooper lays in his bed, staring at the bright red numbers on the alarm clock next to him. Eight in the morning is too early, but it's especially too early when you know you're going to die soon. There isn't a time that feels late enough to convince yourself to get out from under the warmth of your covers.

After a quick battle with his conscience, he forces himself out of his bed and makes his way towards the bathroom for a shower. He stops in his tracks when he spots the familiar notebook on his dresser.

Knowing that nothing good can come from looking at the notebook, he continues towards the bathroom. He stops once more when temptation gets the best of him, sending him back in the direction of his bedroom. When his hand wraps around the edge of the book, he hesitates, but still he grabs it off the dresser and takes a seat on the end of his bed.

He stares down at the object in his hands for a while, having another debate with himself about the effect this may have on his mental state. Deciding that it can't get much worse anyway, he turns to the very back of the notebook and begins reading the list he'd wrote weeks before.

 Deciding that it can't get much worse anyway, he turns to the very back of the notebook and begins reading the list he'd wrote weeks before

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He stares back down at the list, tears welling up in his eyes as he rereads the words "If I had more time." His eyes scan over the page once more and before he has a chance to overthink it, he's reaching for a pen to make an adjustment to the list.

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