Everglow: Friend From Far Away

3 - Making Plans

Black clouds hung in the air as Fischer's car rumbled down the grey road. The sky had turned from a soft gold into a dark grey. The sun's light was choked by looming black clouds, signaling the coming of a serious storm.

Fischer sat silently in the car, emotional music playing from the radio. His mind was racing, different thoughts battling for supremacy in his head. Anxiety was back, slowly eating away at him, and it was only a matter of time until something would snap.

He was 20 minutes away from home, 20 minutes away from hell. It seemed like every time he walked through the door of his house, something new would be there to drag his day down.

He pictured the face of his mother. A woman whom he despised with every ounce of his body. Every time she saw him, she would complain.

Every time she heard him, she would groan and wince.

He was a failure to her, a waste of space.

But Fischer needed her, not for support or wealth, but for shelter. Living on the freezing German streets isn't something that many people would be happy to do. The raggedy old hell hole he called a home was the only place he could stay. His room was the only place he could feel safe.

Work was a release from all the stresses of home. Fresh air, limited contact with other people, no one to bother him and plenty of space to himself. As boring as it could be, Fischer loved every second of it.

As he drove down the highway, he felt his phone start to vibrate. Someone was calling him, but he couldn't answer. He didn't want to have to pull over, but it was very rare that someone would call him, unless it was serious. There was a flat stretch of grass up ahead on the right. It would prove adequate for a short pit stop.

Cursing under his breath, he turned on his indicator and began to swerve off the road. He felt a hard thump as his car left the bitumen and started to roll over the grass. The sun was high enough that he didn't need his headlights any more, and the fog had begun to lift.

Turning the car's engine off, he opened the door and hopped outside. The grass swayed in the fresh breeze and the wind whipped through his combed over hair. He pulled out his phone and saw that the call was from a familiar number.

"Hey Mira. Did you need something?"

"Hey Fischer, nah. Just wanted to let you know about Saturday. I've got a little something special planned. Nothing too big. Just something I though you'd might like,"

A confused look began to crawl across Fischer's face. What was she talking about?

"What do you mean?"

"You'll have to wait and see. I'm not spoiling anything," Whatever she had planned, it would be nice to go and see someone that wasn't his mother. Even better if that someone was Mira.

"Well ok then. At least tell me what time you were thinking. I can't really afford to miss out on work right now. I need the pay to keep my mother off my back. She's been hounding me about rent,"

"Yea, yea I know. I've already told you, if you need a hand I'm happy to help you out with that,"

Fischer sigh, rolling his eyes. He hated when she offered things like this. It felt so wrong to him.

"Mira I'm not going to take your money and use it to pay my rent, that's not how things work,"

"Fisch, I'm you friend, it's what I'm here for, of course it's how it works. Hell I'd let you stay over at my place if we could afford it,"

"I appreciate it, I really do. But I don't feel right taking your money. You know how I am,"

Through the phone, Mira let out a small chuckle.

"Yea, I know. I've known since school. But the offer's there if you need it. Anyway, as for times, I'm hoping around 11. Does that work for you?"

"I finish up at around 8 on Saturday so yea, I can do that. Where did you want to meet?"

"I was thinking just down at the shops. Near where the big Christmas tree is,"

"Ok. I'll see you then. Just let me know if anything changes,"

"Will do. I'll see you then, have a good one."

The phone went silent as Mira hung up. Fischer couldn't help but let a small smile creep across his face. It was just what he needed, a catch up with Mira. At least now he'd be able to head home with something to look forward too.

With a newfound reason to smile, he pocketed his phone and clambered back into his car. But before he could turn the keys and be off, his pocket began to vibrate again.

"Oh, what now?" he chuckled. He pulled out his phone, ready to ask Mira what else she missed. But the number wasn't Mira's.

"God dammit," he cursed.

"Fischer? Where the hell are you?" The voice was raspy and broken, but it came from a woman.

"I'm on my way home now mum. I'll be there soon."

"Did you put the washing out before you left last night?" his mum asked, a shade of sarcasm to her voice.

"What washing? You never told me that we had a load that needed to go out," he remarked, now fully expecting a long lecture on how much of a disappointment he was.

"Oh for fucks sake. Really? You couldn't even do that? Honestly why do I even bother with you," his mum growled. She was not happy and her voice was all Fischer needed to hear to tell that.

"Look mum, sorry, I'll put it on as soon as I get home alright?"

"Oh forget it, if you can't even be bothered to remember we even needed a load on in the first place then there's no way your worthless ass is going to remember to do it when you get home."

"I can write it down. I have a pen and some paper here-" the phone cut out as his mum hung up. He moaned with frustration, pocketing the device. It seemed like his mum was always finding ways to complain, and she'd just found another.

But he was going to try not to let it get to him, after all, Mira had just asked him if he wanted to catch up with her, that was always a plus.

Psyching himself up, he clambered into the car again, phone on silent this time.

He turned the key and the car started up again, smoother than last time. But just as he put his foot on the accelerator, something caught his eye.

Something strange.

Something glowing.