Looking to fix a shattered Life

Ninja Mice & Mythical Beasts

Patrick sat still at his desk, staring into the monitor and unhappy with the results of his latest creation. Something about this current work was not coming together. The more he stared at it, the more he hated it. With the push of a single button, the sketches he had been working on for close to three hours were gone. Patrick sat back in his chair, finished the now flat can of Coke on his desk and swiveled around to look at the rest of the office. Kevin had become in the last two weeks a mythical beast at MDG. People reported seeing glimpses of him, a second here or there and then vanishing in the blink of an eye. Patrick wasn't about to skulk around the office in search of him. He was playing this cool, detached, in control and with an air of disinterest to all of his co-workers regarding the return of Kevin.

He was drifting in thought until Amy from HR snapped him back into the present.

"Hey Everyone, can I get everyone's attention for a few minutes. Glenn is coming down to speak to the entire staff ." Owen pulled his chair next to Patrick's.

"Are we going to place a small bet on this announcement? Merger, Acquisition or are we all about to be fired and MDG turned into a International House of Pancakes?"

"Thanks, now I'm hungry", Patrick laughed as the Vice President of MDG walked into the center of the office.

" I just want to take a few minutes this morning to dispel some rumors and to share some exciting news about our company", Glenn told the group standing in a semi-circle in front of him. Owen whispered hostile take-over of Apple Corp that made Patrick grin.

"We have been working to secure a distribution path into the global marketplace and to strengthen our core brand but to also expand and grow our creative base by partnering and this will be a true partnership with Capcom in Osaka, Japan. I know you all recognize their name and of course their games, the Resident Evil series and Street Fighter," Glenn continued as applause erupted. "This is a huge opportunity for us. When we thought of how we wanted to position MDG for the future and how we wanted to grow you as a creative unit, again this partnership gives us everything and more. We still have details to work out and more information to share with everyone so this is just a brief synopsis of what will be an exciting endeavor for our company and for you all as well", Glenn added as more applause broke out. " I just want to add one more thing. I need to thank Stephen Banks, Marcia Cohen and the real key person who was on the ground working incredibly hard to put this deal together, Kevin Matheson who will be back here full time once he is back up to his 100 percent self in a new position as Vice President in charge of our Creative Division. Oh and one more thing, there will be a nice bonus in your paychecks next week for all the hard work and dedication to making this company the success story it is."

Hugs, more applause and cheering filled the office as Patrick walked back to his desk and sat down. Owen ran up behind and grabbed both his shoulder and shook him.

"We're going to be rich!, this is huge and why the hell do you look like someone who's about to have root canal minus the novacaine?"

"No, I'm excited. I am", Patrick assured Owen. He took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead, wondering about what condition Kevin was in, when he would finally see him and how would he find his footing working with him again.

The rest of the work week flew with happy conversations how to spend the bonus money; Owen tripping to Hawaii and taking surfing lessons; Patrick replacing his laptop or possibly buying a new microwave.

Friday morning Patrick arrived at MDG to find it awash in Halloween decorations and bowls of fun size candy strategically placed on desk tops. Patrick spied a small bag of peanut m&ms which would become breakfast. He and Owen spent the day picking at the miniature snickers, twix, and kitkat bars and trading ideas on a new game.

"I have always always wanted to do a game with ninjas", Owen said popping a snickers into his mouth. "How may of these fun size candies would actually equal one regular sized bar?"

"35", Patrick said before unwrapping another twix bar. "So ninjas? I know nothing about ninjas. How about gay ninjas? How about ninja drag queens?"

"I was thinking ninja kittens battling evil ninja mice. Think of the merchandise during the holidays. Stuffed animal mice and kittens with accessories like razor sharp ninja death stars that children can throw at each other. There is incredible potential here", Owen added.

"Marketing Ninja Death Stars to children? Get some rest Owen and lay off the sugar", Patrick threw his backpack over his shoulder and headed home to start the weekend. He walked home, a beautiful fall evening, a harvest moon already big in the sky. Patrick ducked into The Beanery to treat himself to a caramel latte and take solace in the start of a quiet Friday night. He had no plans except with the remote control and some left over sweet and sour chicken if Agustin or Eddie hadn't found it hidden in the back of the fridge. Drink ready to be paid for, Patrick reached into his backpack for his wallet but couldn't feel it. He apologized to the cashier and proceeded to empty the contents of the backpack onto the counter with a small line of three people standing behind him. No wallet. He had two dollars folded up in his pocket, not nearly enough to pay for the drink. More panicked than embarrassed, Patrick exited the coffee shop and retraced his steps to find his missing wallet that contained his driver's license, two credit cards (one to use and one in case the first one did not work for some reason) his work ID card, his company health insurance card, his social security card and tucked into one of the small side openings, a favorite picture of Kevin. Patrick walked slowly and scanned the ground for the worn leather wallet, a gift from his mother many Christmases ago. He reached the door of MDG and stopped at the security desk to see if anyone had turned it in but no such luck. He continued to walk thru the office searching the floor until he arrived at his desk. Patrick pulled his chair out and move the waste basket aside to spy his wallet on the ground. The breath he had been holding for so long coupled with the tension that had gripped his chest eased out of his body as he bent over and picked it up. Patrick pushed the chair back into place and turned to leave the office when he noticed the light on in the fishbowl office. Mythical beast sighted. Kevin was sitting at the desk, computer monitor glowing. He was facing off to the side, elbow on the desk, his head resting on his hand. Patrick froze, chest again tight, breathing sharply and shallow. He slowly walked across the floor towards the front door of the office to leave when he paused to see if there was any motion behind him. Nothing. Patrick pushed the door open and took one step outside. He knew as soon as he got home he would spend the night regretting leaving without any contact with Kevin. He walked back across the floor and stood outside the window of the office, thinking, hoping that he might catch Kevin's eye to make him approach first. But Kevin hadn't move out of position. Patrick walked to the door and slid it open, stepping inside. He took a deep shaky breath and turned to face Kevin; opening his mouth to whatever word might fall out and stopped abruptly. Kevin's eyes were shut. He was asleep at the desk, his coat was on, papers and folders laying on the top , a set of keys and almost full coffee cup next to his arm. Patrick slowly sank into one of the chairs across from the desk, starring at Kevin's face which was clean shaven yet thinner, dark shadows under his eyes, hair longer than Patrick had ever seen, more silver/grey in it that shimmered in the light of the computer screen. He could clearly see the veins in the back of Kevin's hand which moved slightly as he head tilted a bit down. His eyelids fluttered briefly. Patrick sat back in the chair content just to watch Kevin sleep, he didn't look like the person he last saw nine months ago but Patrick had feared much worse. The silence in the room was suddenly shattered.

"Are you going to say anything Patrick Murray or shall we sit here in this incredibly awkward silence" , Kevin's eyes slowly opened as he turned his head to face Patrick.