[attr="class","spiral"] Fernando can feel himself doze off with each passing moment. He's aware his consciousness is fading but that does nothing to relieve his eyelids of their heaviness. Every time they close the world passes by him and it takes every fiber of his will to dig into another spoonful of oatmeal. Lunch is brief and he finds solace in sitting alone in the otherwise bustling work space.

People know better than to approach, not out of intimidation, but because everyone knows Fernando will be in and out. Those that dare pull up a seat are never kept for long before they replace him and end up eating alone. Only the new fledglings or uninterested find a seat among him.

He blinks again and the culmination of too many sleepless nights means his spoon misses his gruel and lands into his bowl of rice. With a resigned sigh, he tries to shake off the sleep. It doesn't work. It never works.