for y in years

__for m in months

____for d in days

______for h in hours

________for s in seconds

__________if location(you) != location(me)

____________then fast-forward time to when we can be together

____________% because every second without you is a second I

____________% spend missing you, wishing you were with me

__________else

____________slow down time, so we can cherish every moment

____________% because not even a lifetime with you would be enough

Edmund's supposed to defend his PhD on sleep science, but he's got nothing. I've done more this year than he's done in four. Only one trial left for this study.

"Hey, can you run it on me tonight? My participant ghosted me," I ask him.

"Sure."

Several dreams later, I'm half awake but my eyes feel glued shut. I can't move. I hear footsteps, then Edmund's voice.

"Your work will make a fantastic thesis."

I feel cold fingers suddenly clamp down on my nose. I can't breathe. I try to scream but sleep paralysis has me on lockdown. I can't–