The sound of a car crashing into another filled the room, followed by sirens in the distance. Week old pizza boxes were pilled on the coffee table as empty mountain dew bottles litter the floor. The blinds are closed tight, blocking all light from entering.

Ted opened the door to his apartment and was assaulted by the wall of stench. Immediately, he dropped his bag and stepped further inside. While walking to the far side of the room, he spoke. “Jesus Elijah, did you leave at all this week?” Reaching a window, he threw the blinds and opened the window.

“Fuck that’s bright! Oh, hey Ted.” Elijah paused the game and scratched his head, thinking. “I think I checked the mail once while you were gone.”

Cold air blew into the room, clearing out the funk. Ted stood there, exhausted. “What happened to that hike? Y’know, the one you swore you’d do during your week off.” A week with his high-energy family had worn him down physically and returning to Elijah’s slobishness was doing the same mentally.

“D’know. Didn’t feel like it I guess.” Elijah was done with the conversation. He turned away from Ted and unpaused his game, filling the room with noise.

Ted was starting to get highly annoyed. “Let’s go hit the gym, bro.” With any luck, he’d be able to work of the numerous calories before they stuck around.

“Don’t wanna.”

This made Ted angry. He was attempting to help Elijah be healthier, possibly get laid, and definitely not die young. The anger finally got to Ted. He threw his voice into an unusual tone and cadence. “Come with me to the gym.”

Continue reading “Changing Whisper” →