three in the morning
He could already hardly feel the decayed apple in his back or the inflamed area around it , which was entirely covered in white dust . He thought back of his family with emotion and love . If it was possible , he felt that he must go away even more strongly than his sister . He remained in this state of empty and peaceful rumination until he heard the clock tower strike three in the morning . He watched as it slowly began to get light everywhere outside the window too . Then , without his willing it , his head sank down completely , and his last breath flowed weakly from his nostrils . When the cleaner came in early in the morning - they 'd often asked her not to keep slamming the doors but with her strength and in her hurry she still did , so that everyone in the flat knew when she 'd arrived and from then on it was impossible to sleep in peace - she made her usual brief look in on Gregor and at first found nothing special .