Just Trying to Breathe [OPEN]
Apr 13, 2016 23:07:29 GMT -5
Post by David Reed on Apr 13, 2016 23:07:29 GMT -5
It was a cool afternoon. The kind that threatens to turn into a cold evening. But the sun still hung in the sky, hovering just at the tips of the trees. There was still a couple of hours of light, Dave estimated, with a little luck. Not that he particularly minded the cold. Lately he preferred it. The chill kept people away and inside and gave the great outdoors just that much more space. That much more room to breathe.
He needed that. Every day it was one issue after another, after another. Then, on top of that, were all the problems no one seemed to be able to solve without coming to him. 'Exhausting' didn't even begin to cover it. He'd caught himself snapping at Alice and Jeff again. Even Craig. So after slamming his way out of the dingy little office, Dave bailed.
He was halfway out of town when he pulled over and stopped. He couldn't leave. There was no leaving any more. With nowhere left to go, Dave found himself pulling into the park. He'd wandered over to a bench by the lakeside, sat, and pulled out a smoke. Dave hunched forward and ran a hand through his hand his hair. He propped his elbows on his and took a good, long drag.
How long he sat there, Dave didn't know, but slowly and steadily the silence sunk in. Reaching into the pocket of his worn, black jacket, he pulled out the beaten up little GPS he called his best friend. Dave held her up and looked over the familiar nicks and scratches with a humph.
"Didn't even try to stop me." Part of him contemplated tossing her to the ground, but Dave just couldn't do it.
"There was nothing to say." The words came to him, FI's little voice in his head.
Dave leaned back with a light thud and tossed his head back. Closing his eyes, he took another drag. FI was right. What WAS there even to say? Was there even anything that could be done? Anything, just to make it easier to breathe.
He needed that. Every day it was one issue after another, after another. Then, on top of that, were all the problems no one seemed to be able to solve without coming to him. 'Exhausting' didn't even begin to cover it. He'd caught himself snapping at Alice and Jeff again. Even Craig. So after slamming his way out of the dingy little office, Dave bailed.
He was halfway out of town when he pulled over and stopped. He couldn't leave. There was no leaving any more. With nowhere left to go, Dave found himself pulling into the park. He'd wandered over to a bench by the lakeside, sat, and pulled out a smoke. Dave hunched forward and ran a hand through his hand his hair. He propped his elbows on his and took a good, long drag.
How long he sat there, Dave didn't know, but slowly and steadily the silence sunk in. Reaching into the pocket of his worn, black jacket, he pulled out the beaten up little GPS he called his best friend. Dave held her up and looked over the familiar nicks and scratches with a humph.
"Didn't even try to stop me." Part of him contemplated tossing her to the ground, but Dave just couldn't do it.
"There was nothing to say." The words came to him, FI's little voice in his head.
Dave leaned back with a light thud and tossed his head back. Closing his eyes, he took another drag. FI was right. What WAS there even to say? Was there even anything that could be done? Anything, just to make it easier to breathe.
