Chapter 1
2013:
The day started as any other day would. The same half-cup of coffee on the table, half eaten bagel with cream cheese, ash tray filled with ashes from the cigarette that you have been smoking every time you would sit there in the morning to contemplate the meaning of life and the life as it is itself. You sit there in that place that you always go to. That broken down diner you have been going to ever since you were a little kid, the one that can't even make a decent cup of coffee but you still drink it anyway. You've been meaning to find a way out of this god-forsaken town, the one that you hate so much as you think of all the sick and disgusting memories that you have here. How it makes your skin crawl every single time you go back alone to that rundown apartment you live in. You never get any sleep there and every single god forsaken memory that you have comes to life every time you lie down and close your eyes. There is no rest only constant fears of the future and for the lives of the ones that you let get close to you. Every time you leave to a place far away from to this town, somehow you always end up coming back to it. Like a crack- addict who decided to come clean but succumbs back to the euphoria sensation they once had whenever the itch becomes too great to handle. Somehow you find yourself sitting in that same old seat at the back of the diner while the speakers play Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire, it's like they reserved this space and song especially for you. You stare out the same window. You've never found anything particular interesting to look at outside but you sit there waiting for something to change. You wait and wait for something to happen but as expected nothing happens. Just the same old boring scenery in the same old god-forsaken town. You stop staring and blink as you take a sip of your coffee only to be greeted by its cold bitter taste. You grimace and set the coffee mug down. How long was it this time? Sitting here you were lost in your thoughts. You suddenly have the urge to get up and skip town but you fight the feeling. You always wanted to leave, oh and you always left but you come back. You got the courage you've just never had the will to leave permanently.
"Fresh cup of coffee?"
You look up from the table to see a young waitress in her early twenties holding out the pot of coffee in her hands. She's a blonde with bright blue eyes full of hope and happiness the one that you rarely see around here and you know instantly that she just moved here. You know because everyone else here has that knowing gleam in their eye the one of burdened weight and hopelessness that can't be described. It's something that takes a toll on everyone here. You pity her. A year from now she would look at customers with the same burdened weight of hopelessness as everyone else. However, at the same time you envy her. You nod and hold out the cup of coffee. She reaches to take the mug and accidently touches your hand. For some reason you feel this jolt of electricity pass between the two of you. You look at her to see if she felt it too. She looks at you and you know that she felt it. For a while you study her with the same startled expression. Suddenly you become interested in her. Her face flushes and you realize that you've been staring at her for some time now. You quickly look down at your half-eaten bagel and she quickly refills your coffee and leaves.
You find yourself watching her as she goes around to other people and refill their coffee. For some reason she looks up and you make eye contact. She quickly looks away and goes into the back kitchen. You find yourself smiling and immediately you stop. You take out another cigarette and light it. You blow a smoke and then you take a sip of the coffee she poured. Stunned by the fresh taste and richness of it you immediately set the coffee down. You go through your pockets looking for change for the bill and place down a ten dollar bill. You get up to leave but you are stopped by another waitress.
"Grant"
You've been coming to this diner long enough that you know everyone by their first name and everyone knows you. You immediately sit down again and take another drag of your cigarette. She slides into the booth across from you. She's an older frail looking lady that you've known every since you were a kid, she's taken care of you when your family couldn't. You blow another smoke and watch as the trail of smoke leaves your mouth. Finally you speak.
"Hey Liz"
"How long are you going to be in town?"
You pause for a moment and then answer back.
"I don't know about a month or so. It really depends."
"Hmm, you in a hurry to leave again?"
You look around and see that young waitress making rounds again.
"Im not sure, depends when I have to go back to work" You pause and take another smoke and look at the young waitress as she passes by your booth.
"Grant..." You look up at Liz again
