Over the edge

chapter four

He woke up to his phone ringing. Not looking at who  was calling, he answered
"Hello?"

"Hello Mr Williams, this is John , reporter  for TMZ....."

The man didn't get to finish the sentence as Eric hung up on him.

Any other given day, he would have jumped at the chance to be in a magazine but not today.

He didn't feel like putting on a facade for millions of people.

He sat up and checked his  watch. It was ten am. He'd been asleep for only two hours. An hour more than he slept yesterday.

He looked at the picture he was holding one last time, put it back and straightened philip's bed.

He loved the way this room was so full of life.

It was blue and there were posters of cartoons that philip loved. There was a small picture in the middle of the wall .

It was of his favourite author, David Walliams, and it was signed. He had a full collection of all his books.

Taking one last look at the room, he got out and headed to his own room.

His house was really big. Six bedrooms, a gym , cinema , swimming pool , dining room, sitting room and a game room.

But it felt empty.

It  no longer felt like home.
Home was where he was supposed to feel love and affection and this house did not give him that anymore.

Every room he passed was filled with memories that made his heart feel like it was breaking into a million pieces.

It ached for some love and affection.

He entered his room. It was not like the other rooms.

It reeked of cigarettes and booze.

There were several alcohol bottles on my nightstand and an open packet of cigarettes. Adam didn't like it when he smoked so I had cut down to one per day.

Nowadays he smoked almost a packet a day.

He wasn't exactly proud of himself .

He also hated drinking before but now it was his way of forgetting.

He went to his window and looked outside. It  was neither sunny nor cloudy. Perfect weather to  run.

He strode to his closet to change and picked out  black sweat pants and looked for a t shirt.

He took the first one he found.

It was Adam's.

It had a smear of tomato sauce on it. He smiled recalling what caused it. 

Flashback....

It was already ten pm and he had not finished his work. He was a little tipsy as he had been drinking due to pressure at work.

He leant back on his chair and closed  his eyes momentarily. 'One minute, that's  it ' he said.

He didn't  even close  his eyes before he heard a knock.

"Come in."

Adam stepped  into the office, wearing a white t shirt and grey  short. He was carrying a plastic  paper bag.

"Adam, what are you  doing  here? And  why are you  wearing  shorts and a t shirt?"

"I went to your  house but you were not there so I  figured you'd  be here. The security  guard and I are buddies that's  why he let me in."

"Ok then . What did you want?"

"To keep you  company."

"You didn't have to . I told you I would be okay."

"Eric, you're  my friend and I  know the divorce is messing  with  you so I'm here to support  you"

He put the bag on the table and took out two cokes and fries and ketchup.

Eric was struggling  with the ketchup and when he  managed to tear it open, he accidentally threw it on Adam's shirt.

"I'm  so sorry. Let me clean it up."
He  took out a tissue to wipe it  but Adam  stopped  him.

"It won't help. Do you have another shirt I can change into?"

"No. Let's  go home so I  can get you something to change into."

"We'll eat first."

"Sure thing."

Eric  took him to his house afterwards.

That night , they sat down on the  bedroom floor and Eric   had beared his  soul to Adam . He  told him about his  messed up childhood and all the problems he had gone through to get to where he   was .

Adam  held him while he cried saying no comforting words, the silence and his  chocked noises being the only thing between them.

He  felt so lucky  to have a friend like Adam .

End of flashback.