The feeling of losing something we took for granted. It explores the theme of also losing yourself to a routine, to a mundanity that surrounds us.

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Waking up to my best friend with green skin is not something I enjoy doing.

And it's not a bright green that hurts your eyes like they do in movies—it's more of a muted, minty colour? Surely it's just paint.

Gently, I shake him awake.

“Dude, did you paint yourself like a sick elf on the shelf last night?”

His eyes don't open immediately, but when they do, my gaze is greeted by a pair of non-existent pupils.

“Uh, a blind elf on the shelf?”

Finally looking around, he notices the greenish tinge on his hands and bolts out of the room, slamming the bathroom door shut.

Yup. Definitely just a drunk decision.

I give the door three knocks. “You okay? How much did you drink last night?”

“Like, two shots!” He yells. The sink is gurgling loudly.

“Let me know if you need anything!” I laugh.

Did I mention how much I dislike waking up to a green best friend?

“I thought you washed the paint off yesterday.” I groan, shoving off the covers and stretching. “Are your contacts still in too?”

Another tiny shriek and a run for the bathroom.

That's two weeknights in a row. Man, his schoolwork must have him swamped to be drinking this often.

“Okay, you've really got to do something about all… this.” I motion to his cerulean complexion. “And I don't think white pupils are doing it for me either.”

It's the third morning in a row I've seen green. “I'm starting to think you're an alien.” I chuckle.

He shifts nervously from one foot to another. Did his feet always look like that? 

“If I told you I was, would you believe me?”

Nah, I'm just having morning exhaustion.

. . .

It's been a while since I've seen him. Some joke about going back to a home planet still haunts me. I didn't realize how much I'd miss our routine together, even if it was a little green. Waking up alone makes the apartment feel too big for me.

If he remembers me, while he's in space in the cosmos somewhere, I hope my tan skin didn't bother him much either.