Torn Souls

3. Coffees and Cakes

I'll just do it later. He put his things away and stood to stretch. Standing too fast, the room started to spin before getting dark. He plopped back down. He technically had time. Loads of it. And even more if... no. Not yet at least. No. No no no I won't.

He was to tired to think straight. The monster had worn off and he needed the green one for later. Grabbing his phone, he opened the timer. Ten minutes. Then I have to go. He fell asleep rather fast. Like, as soon as he closed his eyes kind of fast.

It felt like someone was shaking him awake. He sat up in a panic. But again, no one was there. Rubbing his eyes, he grabbed his phone, only to see the alarm going off but no noise. It had been ten minutes. What the hell?

Deciding to move past that, again with the ignoring strange things, George got in the shower. He waited for the warm water, but it never came. He brushed his teeth and checked again, still cold. "Oh fun. Cold shower it is." He could've sworn that water was past cold. Like titanic ice water cold. The shriek that escaped him agreed. "Will say, I'm not the biggest fan of this right now." He muttered under his breath.

And that was probably the quickest shower he had ever taken. At least the previous day's water had been decently brink-of-cold-warm. Keeps getting better doesn't it.

The outdoors hadn't gotten any warmer. It was still January. The snow was still apparent. The sun hadn't melted it anymore than the last time he looked outside.

As for his classes, nothing changed there either. The professors droned on for hours. They also gave more assignments for him to do. George knew it was mostly his fault. He knew if he had done it in the first place, none of this would be a problem. But still, he couldn't help it.

Somedays he was so unbearably tired. Somedays he fought to stay awake. Or to even move. But he would get himself out of this mess one way or another. It was already Wednesday, which was a day he had work. Walking into the small cafe, he felt slightly better. Something about the calming atmosphere and the smell of coffee and cakes could cheer almost anyone up. (Except the busy weekends filled with cranky people).

They had a decent amount of cashiers, with a lot of customers. George was put on bakers duty. He mastered the art of making cakes and flavoring coffees. It was his favorite part of the job. He didn't even have to talk to a lot of people. Not to mention the few compliments he would get for his excellent baking skills.

At nine, he had to close the cafe. The last of the people left, and he quickly swept and cleaned counters and tables. George threw his coat on, and took an extra coffee and slice of cake to take home. Might've not been the best, but the first thing he'd eaten in two days.

The air was cold, freezing actually. He didn't expect otherwise though. The city seemed dead. Or abandoned. It was strange. It was erie, there was some noises like cars driving by or people yelling. Definitely was not a normal Thursday. He walked briskly, wanting to just be at home.

His was greeted with warm air. It was still and silent in his apartment. Like every other day. Except today, he had brought home cake. That made it slightly better.

George, with cake and coffee in hand, walked to the window seat. He sat criss cross and looked down at the world. It was beautiful, the lights lit up the city and the cars rushing by, each going their own way, and different places. But the sky is what really caught his attention. The moon was bright and absolutely magnificent. It was in a slopping c form. It was just a sliver, but you could see the light of the sun reflecting off of it fade into darkness. The light polution hid most of the stars, but some were bright enough to shine through anyways.

"Im a damn good baker." He said to himself, filling his cheeks. He was ignoring the work he would have to do. He was ignoring how he felt like his life was an endless cycle of work and sadness. He smiled at the moon, he didn't know how to explain his fascination for it. Maybe it was the way it was his main and only true form of comfort since he was a small boy.

Finishing his cake, he threw the box away and got his books, papers, and computer out, again. There weren't too many today. More poems and essays. And financial assignments. The deeper he sank into work, the deeper he sank in his own mind. He didn't want to do this. It was an endless cycle, truly.

What made it worse, he was alone. All the time. He just wanted somebody- literally anyone. His brain was so numb, he hadn't noticed the tears forming until they blurred his vision. George tried to blink them away, but they only fell. And he knew once they fell, they wouldn't stop. He just wished for it to end. He wished for everything to just stop. He knew he only had five months left. But it seemed unbearable.

The night trudged on. And on. And on. The tears only made it more difficult. At least tomorrow was Friday. But he did nothing but work Saturday and Sunday. Working for what- he didn't know. He could just- no. He wouldn't. I'll be okay. But that thought only brought the tears faster. I'll just get through the night. And so he tried.

He decided on ten minute naps inbetween assignments. They worked to a certain point. He was still exhausted by the time six am came around.

George looked at the mirror- only to see a stranger in his reflection. The skeleton looking back at him. The rats nest of hair, his eyes red and puffy from crying for hours and hours causing the blueish black eye bags to stick out even more. The ice cold water hit his bare skin, burning more than hot water would. He expected nothing but cold water at this point, until the shower turned off. Only to turn back on with warm water. It was an odd occurrence. But he was glad nonetheless. He was hoping today would turn out different, that something good come out of it. But he didn't even know the half of it.