Aiden

He stripped the white shirt from his warm and sweaty back. He held it between his hands. It was white stained yellow on the underarms with a few misplaced drops of blood. He tossed it to the ground. Shivers shot up and down his spine, collecting at the small of his back. He watched the steam spew from his nostrils and flow to the ceiling where spider webs came into view. 1

He trudged to the other side of his one-room apartment. He felt the grimy floor with every step he took. He reached for a dirty green shirt that lay on his sheet-less bed, and felt a long, slender splinter implant itself on the underside of his left foot.2

His breath escaped him as he collapsed on his bed. He clutched his foot. The warm blood ran a river down his fingers falling from his fingernails making a sort of pool on the dirty floor. 3

He examined the wound in the light placed on top of the nightstand to the left arm of his makeshift chair. The splinter had run itself deep into the tissues of his foot. The flesh around the insertion of the wooden spear was turning brown from collecting dust and dirt floating aimlessly around the room. The placement of the splinter was precise, exactly one knuckle’s length above the bay of his foot.4

With his thumb and index finger he grasped the end of the splinter and made his first attempt at removing the foreign object from his body. It proved to no avail. As soon as any amount of stress was put on the object, every nerve ending in his body exploded, sending a numbing sensation up his leg.5

He grabbed the shirt from his bed and placed it between his teeth. Again he grabbed the splinter, gritted his teeth, and pulled. The splinter ripped from his foot. He tossed it aside and staggered to the bathroom. He entered and flipped the light switch to the on position. The room lit up like a match, and a few moths gathered next to the light. He walked, trying to all the pressure on his right foot, to the tub. He began to draw a bath. The water fell from the faucet, running a little brown and thin at first, but then turning clear as crystal. 6

When the color of the water regulated and the temperature was slightly warmer than the air around him, he slipped the stopper in the drain and positioned himself inside the tub. 7

His mind raced with miles of thought from the hours prior.8

Adeline.9

Her hair, her skin, her lips were all he could picture. He had walked to her house. Out the front door, turned left down the sidewalk, turned right at the third stop sign, fourth house of the left. The walk had taken several minutes longer than expected due to the downpour as soon as he left his apartment building. He had worn jeans, slightly ripped on the left leg, a T-shirt, and a wind-breaker she had given him months prior to the night. It seemed suitable, but the rain soaked through.10

The wind blew from the west with great force. Every bone in his body shook and ached from the cold. Every step felt like miles, and the minute hand on his watch seemed to stand still.11

Fourth house on the left. He headed up the damp steps towards the entrance. The door’s white paint had begun to peel, and the doorbell hung a little out of its socket. He stood, dripping with anticipation and rain. He rang the bell.12

He heard the chime of artificial bells playing inside. Some rustling inside came up abruptly and he heard two voices. She came to the door with disappointment. Inhale. He attempted to peer inside, but was immediately blocked by her face. Exhale.13

He brushed it off and leaned his head slowly in for a kiss. She missed his lips again. His heart sank, and his insides twisted.14

He looked up at her again. She stared blankly back at him. Furious. He lifted his hand and removed her from the doorway. He barreled down the hallway towards the living room15

He turned the corner and froze dead in his step. Standing there face to face with him was another man. The man stood with his chest heaving. His shirt was off and was lying next to him on the end table.16

His eyes flicked around the room. He desperately searched for something … something to release his anger with. He searched and searched, but he found nothing. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw it. It gleamed in the glow of the lamp on the desk next to him. There it was…an answer to his problem. A letter opener sitting on the top of last month’s bills. 17

He took a deep breath in. Inhale. He stood and waited. He waited for the strange man to make a move. Sweat flew from every pore. His chest heaved and his palms shook. The man stood apprehensively. Exhale.18

Inhale. He slowly moved towards the weapon. The man’s eyes shot towards the table, and it was done.19

He grabbed the blade and lunged. He ran the blade straight into the stranger's chest, just left of the right nipple, hand and all. He dropped to the floor.20

This brings us back to the tub. The water began to get cold. Through the window, the room spun in shades of blue and red. He looked over at the counter at the electrical clock blinking 12:00. He traced the cord back to the wall. He looked down at himself and smiled. And with a wet hand he knocked the clock into the tub to keep him company. Exhale.