Pending Missions

When Zachary's eyelids fluttered open the following morning, he immediately had a feeling that he had overslept. By reflex, he glanced around and noticed that the soft white-gold light rays of the new day were already seeping into his room through the gaps between the curtains, blanketing his bedroom window. But he still couldn't confirm the exact time. So, he scooped up his phone from the bedside table before glancing at the screen. And as expected, it was already 10:00 AM.

"Damn! How could I sleep for almost ten hours?"

Zachary jumped out of bed with a start, intending to wash his face before going through his customary daily yoga routine. But, just after taking the first step away from his bed, he felt his limbs and muscles weighing him down. It was as if his vessels and organs were full of lead instead of blood — a condition that caused him to experience a discomfiting numbness all over his body. He was even struggling to walk a few meters to the bathroom.