Page 5 of Day

A gift. They called them gifts.

I scoffed at the thought.

Nothing really made me feel worse than thinking about my friend, who would never walk again because of me. No material items I’ve smashed, even on accident, could compare. I have my whole life to atone for that one night, and I didn’t even think a lifetime would be enough.

I was slightly startled when the phone in my pocket started to vibrate and ring.

It was past midnight, and I didn’t know anyone who would call me.

But then I saw the name on the screen as I held it.

“I’m not asleep, asshole. Get your mopey ass over here,” Charles’s voice was one of jest, and suddenly my solemn mood improved. Was I tired as shit? Yep. But when Charles called, I was there.

His apartment, the end unit in the complex, was fairly close by.

With my hands in my pockets to keep the chill away, I walked in the opposite direction I had been heading, looking forward to seeing my friend.

I could see the sign for his complex coming up when a guy got out of his car and looked at me with curious eyes.

Looking the other way, I crossed the street so I could avoid the weird guy that was still staring at me.

He was tall, and muscular, with dark skin and a shaved head. I sighed, not really wanting to get into a fight or accidentally hurt anyone else.

“You got a problem?” I stopped and asked him, ready to just get it over with if he was going to try and mug me or something.

“Not at all. Just seeing something,” he purred, and then got back in the fancy black Mercedes he had parked then sped off.

“Okay.” I shook my head and walked on, not in the mood to deal with anymore weird people or strange shit. All I wanted was to see Charles, get even more drunk, and hit the sea tomorrow.