A gentle ringing broke the silent air as the alarm clock activated, signalling the start of a new day. Emily turned over onto her other side and hit the off button, her hand flopping onto it like a dead fish.
It was 8:00 in the morning, and it was Emily's 18th birthday. Although she was feeling the excitement that generally comes with having a special day of the year all to yourself, she wasn't feeling it as strongly as normal.
