Summer in the City

Chapter 2 - Darkness

Mik

The night was dark and weary of the constant movement throughout the day time from business people traveling from place to place. Then as the night settled, they made their way back home. There always seemed to be a break in between the two phases of New York. The booming business side of the day and then the roaming souls of the night who go out to have a good time.

Mik stood in front of the window sipping his coffee late at night, as he watched the city underneath him. The night was his day, and when the "higher class" were doing their jobs, he took that time to fall asleep, or try to catch up on some research for his work. He peered his brown eyes away from the reflection of the night and onto the simple watch on his wrist.

3:45am

Only a few more minutes until he would have to go on the radio and talk lively into the night. Night after night he set foot into this building and entered this space, doing what he could do with his limitations and continued to wonder who even listened? Who even cared? But there was a hint of hope that someone did. He was almost sure of it. Someone always listened.

The nights seemed to be cooler even though it was already the start of June and he knew that soon enough the heat would become unbearable. But luckily he worked on one of the lucky floors of the building that had air conditioning, so he always wore his caramel leather jacket when he had the chance.

There was something about being up there, looking beyond the city and not being able to see where the darkness of the night sky ended or began. Peering down at the other's below him. His fellow childhood friends and companions, even strangers and feeling like he should have been down there too, but he wasn't at least not tonight.

Mik heard a shuffling behind him and knew already who it was and what they had brought with them. It was no surprise to him when he turned around to face his friend Ben with his usual Y neck long sleeve, and a white envelope in hand. Ben ran his hand through his black fluffy hair as he gave his friend a sympathetic smile. They both already knew what was coming.

Mik sighed and parted away from his view of the window, walking forward to a wooden table with two wooden chairs. He took a seat. He placed his coffee down on the table and leaned back in the chair.

"Now what man?" Asked Mik tiredly. Ben came closer to the table, and stood across from Mik, he opened the letter in front of him. Mik looked at Ben's face. How he was looking down into the envelope, and Mik noticed his facial features. Even though they were both around the same age of their mid 20s, he still had some deeper indents on his forehead and cheeks. It must have been from all the facial expressions. Ben's face always contorted while he spoke, but the lines never became prominent until now. Mik wondered if it was just the lighting of the room, as Ben pulled out the paper that was folded in three.

"Should I do the honors myself?" Asked Ben sarcastingly,

"Please do." Said Mik, annoyed. Ben took a breath before raising his eyebrows and began to read the letter out loud.

"Dear Mr. Martinez. We have been proactively listening to your show.... Blah blah blah." Said Ben skimming through the letter. "Ah, the good part." He said, "We do not appreciate the language you have been using on the airwaves. It is controversial in our standards."

Mik scrunched his eyebrows, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He asked, "I have never used vulgar language, and if I did, it shouldn't matter. I have the latest show of the night. Responsible adults should have their kids in bed by that time."

Ben folded the letter back up and began to rip it. He tilted his head out the side as he did so and looked to his right, to see the glass enclosed room, where they had all their audio technology and Microphones set up, where Mik would be live in a couple minutes.