This is a Thursday Prompt (a sort of writing prompt account that gets people to work with a theme) whose keyword was "automatic". With this theme, I decided to go with a more literal use of automatic, or in this case, automation.

---

A Day

A loud buzzing just stole you from sleep. It appears to be your alarm, and you need to get ready for work. What shall you do?

>Ignore it and go back to sleep

Oh no no no! goes that little voice from behind your shoulder, That wouldn’t be good at all, would it? it adds. No no, clearly you must get up, which you do of your own free will of course.

>Wake up and shower

You stagger and shower yourself, the warm water waking you up, just a little. The water feels nice though, maybe…

>Just a few minutes more?

Oh no no no! You need to save water. Remember the water bill last month? That cost was positively beastly. No no, you must…

>Get out and get ready

You do so, dragging yourself through a towel to dry yourself, and then get your clothes on. Labouring as the morning tries to drag you down, you get yourself some breakfast and check your phone. Nothing is interesting, aside from a scathing comment about somebody you like. In your sleepy state you consider…

>Giving that bitch a piece of your mind

NO NO NO! That wouldn’t be proper would it? You would be ever so beastly making such crass and naughty language. No no, you must…

>Do nothing

You don’t do anything, and let that comment simmer in your chest as you look at the time. It is time to go, but you don’t feel up to it. Maybe you could…

>Call in sick?

Oh no no no, that wouldn’t be right, would it? You’re healthier than ever, and you need the money, don’t you? No no no, it’s time for work!

That wasn’t even a choice, to be honest. You leave in your car, and join the others on the street and freeway. There are a lot of people. Time passes, and you get to work five minutes late. Your pushy and overbearing boss is already there and berates your ass for being so tardy. There are many things you could say…

>Tell him to shut up, it’s only 5 minutes
>Say traffic was bad and it won’t happen again
>Tell him to fuck off

Oh no no no noooo! Those won’t do at all! Anything you say will just be back-chat to him, and you do rather need this job what with the economy being in such a sorry state. So be a sport and take it on the chin.

>Say nothing

You don’t say anything and sidle on, ignoring the glare attempting to burn a hole in the back of your head. You work. You have your break. You work. You have your lunch. You work. You leave.

You come home exhausted. You sit on the couch in your sweaty clothes, and consider your options. Passing out is good, but you’ll need to eat eventually. But what could you eat? There’s the cheap steak and vegetables you were going to do today. But then there is also…

>Consider having your favourite rich vanilla ice-cream instead

Oh no no noooo! That’s only for special occasions, and dinner isn’t one of them. Now don’t be a lazy Susan and get to work to make yourself a proper meal.

>Make dinner

You make dinner, it takes a while and the steaks were overdone. You still eat it with copious BBQ sauce. You then watch TV until it was time for bed. You think about it…

>Have a shower and go to bed

Oh yes yes yes! Very good decision, very good indeed. Now pop off to it, there’s a good sport.

Still damp, you put on your pyjamas, and collapse on your bed. You drift off, the time ticking away in wait of a day just like today.