Waiting for the ringing to end

Ting!!

Once again, that cursed bell. It Screams at me. Shatters what concentration I have left. I feel my sanity slipping, slowly. Sometimes I just wish-

Ting!!

Gods damn it all. Why must It be me? What have I done to deserve this? In no amount of past lives would I ever have sinned or wronged enough to merit this punishment. My palms sweat. I ache with a thrumming weakness that slowly eats away at what is left of my consciousness. I fear this may be too much.

The unanswered wails of infants and the occasional scream fall away, but only for a moment.

TING!!

The chorus of chaos returns, and heaves itself like a stone against my pinna.

My eardrums sting and vibrate in sympathetic response to the chime, and I feel sweat dripping down my cheeks.

Or is it tears? I'm unsure anymore.

My body aches. I don't know how long I've been here... How long I've even been awake. I slowly and trepidatiously turn my head to look at the clock that looms over me, threatening me with it's constant ticking passage.

No... How??

TING!! TING!!

Just a few minutes have passed. My mind is swimming. I'm drowning in sweat.

I put my hands on the cold steel table to steady myself. I can't seem to catch my breath.

My vision blurs. My knees feel weak. I look over at the clock again.

TING!! TING!! TING!! TING!!

No... please... I beg you..

TING!! TING!! TING!! TING!! TING!!

I can't...

TING!!

I braced for more, wincing in fear. Squeezing my eyes shut so tightly, geometric shapes and echoes of lights danced around on the backs of my eyelids.

But not another ring followed.

Slowly, I opened my eyes. Almost instinctively, my chin tilted upward again, toward that looming clock.

The clock hands were always harder for me to read, but I could still make it out, plain as day.

Five O' Clock.

Emotion welled up within my chest climbed up my throat, and came to a watery crescendo at the edges of my eyes.

I smiled through the tears that plagued my cheeks.

I made it.

Just then, out of the corner of my eye-

An unmistakable silhouette.

I turned to face it, ready for what may come.

It opened it's mouth, it's brow furrowed in anger.

Then-- it spoke.

"Dude, are you fucking deaf? Can I order my fucking food please?"

I smiled slightly, calming speaking to the man.

"You'll have to wait for someone else, sorry. I'm off the clock."

Y'know, I really should find another job.