Side-Track

“It’s coming boy, don’t you dare doubt that it is - and then you’ll get what’s coming to you! Oh, you will pay for what you did. You hear me boy? You had better get it together son - there’s gonna be hell to pay!”

Jared pulled his arm away from the grasp of his old man, he awoke with a jump, hitting his head on the coffee table. He felt a bit nauseous and dizzy, he didn’t remember why or how he ended up on the living room floor, again.

How many nights would he relive this same dream? When would this ride end? He didn’t ask to be on this trip. He didn’t choose this path - it was chosen for him. It wasn’t like he bought a ticket or pass for this crap show. If he could pay someone to let him off of this crazy train, he would give his entire life’s savings.

He shuttered remembering the words his daddy spewed at him, he felt the spit as it spattered on his face. He closed his eyes and ran his fingers across his forehead, poking at the lump starting to rise. He took a deep breath, and picked up the empty bottle of pills prescribed to him. As he stood, he caught his reflection in the hallway mirror. There was blood and sweat pooling across his brow. He blinked, causing the mixture to flood into the worry lines running down his forehead. The salt and blood mixed with bourbon now, burned his eyes. He pulled the sleeve of his t-shirt across his face, making it worse. He blinked hard, rolling his eyes to help clear the blur. As he opened his eyes again, he noticed a shadowed figure in the doorway. He smudged his hands across his eyes again and when…