The Nightstand
Small, worn, cluttered, and functional. My nightstand is a staple to my bedroom, to my life, really. It isn’t the prettiest, but it serves its purpose. It’s the color of amber with a hint of cinnamon. There are chips and scratches all over it from years of use. On top, my essentials sit. A small table lamp in the back corner, it reminds me of the sea. A shade of blue you’d only see in the clear waters of the Caribbean. With one click of its knob, light shines through, illuminating shadows onto my bedroom walls. My jar of pens, vibrant colors so full of life. I love how smooth and silky they dance across the paper as I write. I don’t use them very often, but I still want them accessible if I need to quickly jot something down. My phone/watch charger rests closest to me, my cell phone doubling as an alarm clock, jarring me awake long before the sun makes its appearance. My body lotion, Vanilla Cashmere, by Eos, sits at the back of my nightstand, reminding me of cotton candy with a trace of baby powder. The scent is light and fragrant, relaxing me instantly. I have random pieces of candy scattered across my nightstand, a couple of Blow Pops and Root Beer Barrels. I love indulging in something sweet while watching television at night. Typically, there are three to four bottles of water at various stages of consumption. I don’t know why I do this. Laziness, perhaps.
The contents of the inside of my nightstand tell a different story. This shelf is disorganized, items thrown haphazardly. There is one shelf and one storage space with a door below. The storage space has all my important documents for myself and for my children. Birth certificates, immunization records, car titles, tons of random papers, and spiral notebooks. This space is jam packed, I’ve been meaning to go through it, throw out things I don’t need anymore, but it’s kind of an “out of sight, out of mind” type thing. Waiting to age another decade before it sees the light of day again. For now, it will continue collecting dust until it’s rummaged through again. The shelf above has random chargers that don’t get used, extra phone cases, fluorescent sticky notes, and other odds and ends. I have my e-reader in there too that hasn’t been touched in months. I think it might be dead at this point. I have good intentions of starting a book, but life always seems to find a way to busy me. And a chunky white nail file, just in case I need to smooth out a chip.
Everything that I would need at the end of the day when I get into bed after a long day is on my nightstand. Easily accessible and convenient. This nightstand is a reflection of me in a way. I’m simple. I need just the basics. But I don’t want to move much to get what I need once I’m in bed. All within arm’s reach.
Sasha Alexander is an undergrad student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is working towards a degree in biological sciences, and her goal is to get into wildlife conservation.
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