Josie swerves, almost hits the car in the next lane. The driver honks and she jumps again.
It's that fucking drumbeat. Every time. Who makes Billy Idol's "Dancing with Myself" their alarm clock song? Someone who wants to make weekday mornings worse than they already are. Someone going through a dry patch. Someone bitter, but with a bleak sense of humor. Josie to a T.
This was a few years ago. She's been seeing someone new lately, Danielle. They met in line at the bank. Danielle is an optimist, sunny all the time. Josie is constantly surprised she doesn't hate her. Danielle is soft, curvy hips. Whenever Danielle spends the night, Josie tries to avoid turning on the alarm clock at all. If she does have somewhere to be the next day, it's just a generic beep.
Josie should have known. About Billy Idol, that is. This has happened before with other songs. "Kiss Off" by Violent Femmes. Blondie's "Heart of Glass." Just a few notes and that's it. Whatever else she's doing, whatever else she's thinking--gone. She is alert, heart pounding. She is running late, even when she isn't. There is no snooze button in the grocery store, at the dentist's office, in the car. The early morning interruption lingers with her for hours.
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