**Writings is a series of posts, as we close out 2017, featuring work by the teen writers participating in our Teen Day program. **
Waking Up in the Morning
Everything was still and quiet, when all of a sudden, I was swept with a feeling of agony. I peek open my eyes with caution and a sudden flash of light like lightning pierces my eyes, momentarily blinding me. I’m still awakening from a slumber and I can just barely make out this shrill, beeping noise that’s getting louder by the second. My eyes burning and ears ringing, I try to get up but I feel like I’m being crushed by a sack of sand. I wave my hand around to find the alarm, and I press the snooze button. I gasp with relief and collapse back onto my cozy mattress, as I drift back to sleep.
—Henry Moran
TEEN DAY Ithaca 