2ISGREATER

HARDWARE STORE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey Smith- You've been hanging around here more often? Something you need out of stock? I could go tah the back and get it for ya!" That's Micheal. Was an old highschool friend of mine- and a mutual friend of Alexander's. "Uh.. yeah. Looking to find some uh... home security... cameras and whatnot, doesn't have to be super fancy or nothin'..." I fidgeted with the newfound bandages wrapped around me.

"- Oh- Smithy- did you get intah a fight? You don't strike me as the type tah get intah that mess. You look like yah got pummeled pretty badly.. Tah apple don't fall far from the tree but I ain't know you done hit concrete my friend..." Micheal chuckled a bit at his own joke, and I couldn't help but smile a bit. I glanced around a minute, losing track of what I was doing, of course, Micheal popping in to wave his hand in front of my face. "Are you there?"

"Oh- Erh- Yeah. Sorry... Has Alexander been at work since he got on medication or is he still off?"

"No sir... I understand your concern- We're great pals here at work! Our regulars have been showing worry too- But not tah worry, I'm sure he'll recovah. They sayin' he still be seeing hallucinations. I think he's real upset you got hurt, but he ain't saying a whole lot to them police people, no sir... The fellah keeps talkin' 'bout numbers and stuff, ain't nobody understandin' him right now. He be walking and then he'll panic and scramble- run intah things in panic. I'm surprised he ain't got no dents... Now how 'bout that security systems you be talkin''bout?" Micheal rambled for a while and then lead me through the store. He was a nice guy, really. Just a tad chatty for my standards- though I understand why he and Alexander are such good friends. He's the type who puts a smile on your face no matter what.

Finally I followed the frying pan to the tech aisle, and browsed before spotting something odd through a door that'd been cracked open. Sure, it was a room where they can repair your electronics here, but I recognized it by the stickers almost immediately.
"Isn't that Alex's comp-"

Micheal ran over- and when I mean ran- I mean he almost ran smack dab into a wall, slamming the door shut with the loudest thud I've ever heard in my life. "No- No sir. That wasn't brought in by Alex. It ain't his." Micheal put on a small smile but I could see through it. The nervousness. The anxiety in his eyes. His hands trembled.

I pretended not to notice, faking shrugging it off and picking up the cameras I needed. A sense of heaviness lingered in the air as I paid and walked out. I felt like I'd done something wrong... It's an indescribable feeling really. A cold that crawls up your back and lingers. With multiple arms it seems to cover the entirety of your blind spots, followed by that drop in your heart and stomach. As if someone were applying pressure and pushing them down inside you, displaced. The fluttery dizziness.

I stared at the trees worriedly.

but the trees stared back

and smiled

I should get home as soon as I can.