Shift
By Steve C.
I woke up in cold sweat.
“Max” I said.
I got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. As I was washing my face, I looked up. I saw a man who has not been himself in the past two years. That man in the mirror is not me. If it was, his hair would be cut, not shaggy and out of place. If it was me, he would have shaved and not kept that 5 O’Clock shadow. Even though I just woke up, I still would not have done anything to myself... not since it happened.
My phone started to ring. I walked out of the bathroom and picked up the phone.
“Hello ?” I said.
“John?”
“Oh hey dad.”
“How’s everything ?”
“Okay” I said, knowing that its not.
“Listen, we both know what today is, don’t let it get you down”, my father said. I believe he was trying to make sure I start off with a good mood.
“I know, it’s just- it’s just I miss him”, I said quietly.
“I miss your brother too”, my father said in a soft voice. “Just focus on work. How’s work going?”