Andrea blinked, now awake in the darkness. Her stomach lurched and growled low and loud like a kicked dog. Apparently dozing off on a recliner with a bellyfull of cookies and rich warm breast milk wasn't a smart move.
On second thought, it wasn't the same over-satiated sensation she had dozed off to. A deep, urgent hunger gripped her. She fumbled with the bag of Peanut Butter Fudge Bites that was propped up next to her, but could only finish three before her mouth became intolerably dry. She needed something to wash them down. Andrea tiptoed into the kitchen over the moonlit carcasses of empty cookie bags.
The light from the open refrigerator flooded her night dilated pupils. Her right hand darted inside and brought the carton to her eager lips. She took a heroic pull. Then froze. Then spun backwards and cannoned it into the sink.
Thin and watery itself, yet thick with the taste of waxy cardboard, the milk betrayed all the expectations that were set by sampling her friend's own divine brew. Disgusted, she rinsed out her mouth with tap water. But that only served to gag her with the taste of iron and sulfur.
Surrounded by food, Andrea's mouth was an inhospitable desert preventing her from satisfying the hunger knotting her stomach. She went back to the recliner and tried to fall back asleep. The minutes seemed like hours, decades, and soon she was up again, prowling outside her friend's darkened door.
On second thought, it wasn't the same over-satiated sensation she had dozed off to. A deep, urgent hunger gripped her. She fumbled with the bag of Peanut Butter Fudge Bites that was propped up next to her, but could only finish three before her mouth became intolerably dry. She needed something to wash them down. Andrea tiptoed into the kitchen over the moonlit carcasses of empty cookie bags.
The light from the open refrigerator flooded her night dilated pupils. Her right hand darted inside and brought the carton to her eager lips. She took a heroic pull. Then froze. Then spun backwards and cannoned it into the sink.
Thin and watery itself, yet thick with the taste of waxy cardboard, the milk betrayed all the expectations that were set by sampling her friend's own divine brew. Disgusted, she rinsed out her mouth with tap water. But that only served to gag her with the taste of iron and sulfur.
Surrounded by food, Andrea's mouth was an inhospitable desert preventing her from satisfying the hunger knotting her stomach. She went back to the recliner and tried to fall back asleep. The minutes seemed like hours, decades, and soon she was up again, prowling outside her friend's darkened door.
Thirsty.