Tales from the Gas Station by Jack Townsend

The dog simply cocked his head in response.Įric let out a breath, he knew he was overthinking it. Though he had doubts, he hoped the canine would answer him. 'Where's Jamie, champ?' Eric asked the dog. He concernedly looked around the small room and seeing no Jamie, he felt his heart rate go up a little. He waved at the bernedoodle as the dog started to wag its tail. Jamie's dog, Merlin, lifted his head when Eric opened the door. Eric sighed, the kid was so much like his father. Some papers and colored pencils were scattered on his desks with comics he’d drawn. Jamie's room was well organized, aside from the few clothes strewn about on the ground. He generally doubted he could keep tabs on the dead man walking, but it made Eric feel safe enough to keep himself busy. In his rare free time not with Jamie or at work, Eric spent his time meticulously trying to keep track of Spencer Middleton and that damn town. Eric sleepily walked into the messy living space. Their room was across the hall from his anyway.

Upon finishing his second cigarette, he went to check on Jamie. It was Monday morning, Jamie normally had Mondays off of school and work, so he'd be off at his boyfriend's all weekend or with friends at the bars or clubs. Normally, he'd need to wake up by now for work.

He tiredly rubbed his eyes and looked at his phone. Leaning up against the creaky balcony, he coughed out his first puff of smoke. He watched the sparks light the cigarette cherry. He was still half-asleep shoving through his pockets looking for his lighter. He cussed to himself as he stumbled over the empty whiskey bottles on the ground. Jamie's joy was the only thing keeping Eric sane.Įric stepped on their apartment balcony. He was now in his sophomore year in college as a nursing major, he signed Jamie up for therapy, the kid even had a boyfriend. It was only recently Eric felt comfortable enough to start living a little more normal again. They'd spent a few years off the grid after his niece's 'body' was found. She was pronounced dead, Eric didn't believe it, Jamie either. Help Jamie with school, stress about work, drink until the stress went away, sleep at six in the evening, wake up at eight, toss and turn for the rest of the night, and try to ignore those thoughts about those nights in his hometown.Ī lot had happened since Vanessa went missing. This was the usual routine for a long time. It was early in the morning when Eric went down for a smoke. Trigger Warning for depictions of am anxiety attack, paranoid thoughts, smoking, and themes of depression.

Tales from the Gas Station by Jack Townsend