Theme 020 - Insomnia (about 1,010 words)

Rex tossed and turned. He lay on his back for hours. Unable to sleep. He couldn't sleep. He would just lay awake , staring at the light colored ceiling that in the dark of the night appeared very very dark. He tried. But he just could not fall asleep. It sucked. He was so tired during the day now. He needed all the energy he could get but he could barely get any. It was becoming dangerous. With his line of work he had to be alert. Always.

He always had to be alert or he might get hurt or someone close to him would. He couldn't have that. He didn't want anyone getting hurt because of him. Even in training it was dangerous. Six wouldn't go easier on him just because he was tired and or not as alert. In fact training was made harder. Using his tiredness as an advantage to train when he wasn't alert and at his best.

He tried to regain some of that lost energy but he didn't like coffee or tea and energy drinks could only do so much. Also energy drinks weren't healthy or even really all that safe. Especially in large amounts at once. He didn't want to admit that he was tired or not getting sleep at nights. He was afraid of being viewed as weak. He didn't want to be seen as weak.

Being tried was slowly just becoming part of him. Part of his day. He was learning to cope with the lack of energy. He knew he should tell Six and Holiday that he couldn't sleep and that he hasn't had a full nights sleep in a while but he didn't want to. He knew Holiday would probably be able to help him but he didn't want to admit his weakness.

Holiday has started to notice that the fourteen year old wasn't himself lately. When questioned Rex paused. "I'm just tired Doc" he did admit to being tired. When questioned more he would just shrug the questions off. He wouldn't say that he wasn't getting sleep or for how long this has been going on. Six didn't bring it up to Rex but he did go talk to Holiday during their lunch break.

The two surrogate parents were starting to worry about the boy. They were slowly starting to figure out that the boy wasn't telling them something and that something was wrong. They knew he was tired so that was a starting place. Holiday and Six agreed that they should start question the boy more. Was he worried about something? Was he stressed over anything? Was he able to get to sleep easily? Can he stay asleep? He clearly wasn't sleeping as he should. But why?

The found the boy curled up in his bed trying to catch a nap. He was tossing and turning. As soon as he would drift off he'd be awake again. He just could not stay asleep.He stared at the ceiling for a bit before he mumbled a curse and sat up. It was then that he noticed that the two adults were watching from the doorway.

"Oh hey guys" he yawned. He tried to put on a smile but just was not in the mood to do so.

"Rex, you okay?" Doctor Holiday asked the boy. "You seem really tired lately." she added.

"We're worried about you" Six stated

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine! Don't worry about me guys!" Rex smiled. Yawning once more. "Yeah I have been tired lately but it's no big deal. Like I said no need to worry"

"Have you been sleeping well?" Six asked the boy.

Rex shrugged, trying to avoid the question. "Yeah I guess"

"Rex..." Six started trying to get the truth from the young kid.

"What? Six? I said I'm good." the boy pressed a fake smile then sighed. "alright alright." he shook his head "I can't get asleep most nights and when I do I can't stay asleep."

"So you have insomnia?" Holiday asked as she sat on the edge of the bed next to the boy.

"Insomnia?" he asked. He didn't know what that was.

"It means trouble sleeping, when someone can't get to sleep and can't stay asleep. Like you."

"Oh." Rex nodded "Yeah, Yeah I have insomnia."

"When didn't you say anything?" Agent Six asked him.

"I didn't want to be seen as weak or anything."

"Oh sweetie you're not weak. You'll never be seen as weak from things beyond your control." Holiday comforted. Six rolled his eyes from behind his sunglasses. But it was true. Rex was not weak.

"Don't worry a about it Rex. We'll never see you as weak." Six added as he sat on the other side of the child.

"How long as this been going on , Rex?" Holiday asked

"A few week now." Rex said. "I wish I could sleep normally again"

"Sometimes insomnia is easy to help unfortunately other times it's not. There's various things to try. Everyone is different so we have to experiment to see what helps you." Doctor Holiday explained to the boy.

"Like what?" Rex asked wearily.

"Depends. I think the stress of what is expected of you and everything you're go though everyday might be affecting your sleep. Stress can cause insomnia. I know you're stress levels are high so we need to help bring your levels down. That will be our first steps." 

"Oh. I'm use the stress treatments. Boring but I don't mind it." Rex said with a smile. Six ruffled the boy's hair.

"We'll help you though it no matter what you need. I'm here for you and so is Holiday" Six gave a small smile. Rex smiled back.

"You'll get the rest of today off to start your stress management. Help bring down those levels some." Holiday explained with a smile.

"Try and get some rest. Get a small nap or so in." Six told the boy. "I know it's hard now but hopefully you'll be sleeping normally soon." There was another ruffle of Rex's hair this time from Holiday as the two adults stood to leave and the boy curled up to try and get some more sleep.