Word: Knackered

knackered

[nak-erd]

adjective British Slang.

exhausted; very tired: He is really knackered after work.

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               Julie and Adam trudged into their apartment, groaning and dragging their feet.  Julie managed to make her way to the couch, where she collapsed into the cushions.  Adam did not wait, and simply lay on the floor the moment the door was shut behind them.  He did not care that it had not been cleaning in weeks, simply enjoying the fact that he was not standing.

               “Why did we agree to do that?” Julie asked.  Her voice cracked and some part of her was amazed she had mustered enough energy to say anything.

               “Because we’re stupid.” Adam said, tilting his head just enough that he could speak out of the corner of his mouth.

               Julie wanted to protest, but she lacked the energy to do so.  Instead, she simply grunted in such a way that offered only partial agreement.  Once that was said, neither attempted to speak for several minutes.  Instead, they simply reveled in immobility, however temporary it might be. 

               “Seriously, three days.” Julie muttered.  “What were we thinking?  And why would anyone want to stay awake for three days straight?”

               “I stand by my previous statement.”

               “We didn’t have to go, did we?”

               “No, but we did.”

               More silence followed.  “Why?”

               “You asked that, and I answered.”

               “Oh yeah.  Should we get into bed or something?”

               Adam tilted his head from side to side, considering Julie’s suggestion.  “Bed would be nice, yes.  But then again, it requires that we move.”

               “Good point.  Are you at least going to get off the floor?”

               Adam gave his best attempt at a shrug.  Julie felt that to be a perfectly acceptable answer.  She also made no attempt to convince him to leave his faux-linoleum resting place.  She was even wondering how she had summoned the energy to make it as far as she had. 

               “Hey, Julie?” Adam said.

               “Yeah?”

               “If we ever get invited to another thing like this again, you know what to do, right?”

               “I have a few ideas.  Most of them involve horrible violence against whoever asks us to go.”

               “Good girl.”

               The room was filled with the sound of breathing that slowly grew louder.  Julie leaned back as far as she dared, allowing her to just barely see Adam.  His face was tilted to one side and his eyes were closed.  If it wasn’t for his rhythmic breathing, she would have feared the worst.  As it was, she simply envied his ability to fall asleep in the most uncomfortable positions possible.  He would be paying for it with a stiff neck when he woke up, but for now, he was lost in blissful sleep.  Julie pulled her legs up onto the couch and positioned herself so that she was as comfortable as possible.  Considering the couch was too small, that was difficult.  But once she was laying down, she did not care as much. 

               “Good night Adam.  Let’s never do this again.” She said.

               She closed her eyes, and the sound of gentle snoring soon filled the air.

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Sleep is good.  If done properly, it makes you less tired afterwards.  I always seem to miss that "properly" thing though.  Yeah, I'm not much of a morning person, especially since I don't drink coffee.