Staring out, all I can see is the sunset disappearing over a crystal blue sea. The warm summer air embrasing my cheek. Five years. I still remember that horrid day at Volcano High. The sirens, the screaming, the gunfire. Yet my parents didn't care for my safety. I never talked to them after and I've cut contact with Fang's friends. I thought she was dead for sure. If only that was reality. That meteor dodger took away my ability to walk normally. -------------------- Wheeling back into my apartment, I forgot to clean up. "Fuck sakes, how do I keep missing this mess?" Needles and trash everywhere. I have to clean this shit up sometime. My thoughts get interrupted by a sudden notification from my phone. 'Hey bro... I wanted to check up on you. It's been a while.' The phone number was unknown to me but I knew who it was immediately. My old high school boyfriend, Reed. One of Fang's friends. I sit there, trembling. Not sure if I should be angry at talking to someone I never wanted to see again or that maybe, just maybe I could turn my life around. Not that I have much choice anyways. After Volcano High, I wanted to get out of this state, start somewhere fresh. Yet here I am, barely able to make ends meet. Before I know it, I feel my dry, scaly hands dancing across my phone's virtual keyboard "terrible, feelin bad" All these years, words are still hard for me. Some days, my hands lose all feeling. My thoughts are suddenly interrupted by another message. This time though, I can feel Reed's emotions through the screen like my own portal. A portal of pain and pity. 'Damn, that sucks.' Yep. You can say that again Reed. Putting my phone away, I address my stomach who had been secretly growling. Dinner time. Opening my fridge, I find loads of various types of berries and some questionable looking chicken. I forgot to go shopping again. Breathing a heavy sigh, I feel my arms taking me to the elevator. The shitty deathtrap I've been taking for the past five years to get groceries or go wallow in my sadness. I wish I could walk more then a few feet at a time with a leg brace. I hate this wheelchair. -------------------- Arriving at the supermarket, I look around inside. Most of the staff are busy stocking shelves or looks deadly tired. Perfect, I can get my shit and get out of here quickly. I don't want to see anyone right now. But just as I thought the coast was clear, I see a familiar green stegosaurus walking through the isles. Stella? As I was trying to get a look at her, she starts to turn towards me. I speed to a few aisles over. Fuck. One of Fang's friends is here. I remember Stella. She was a anime freak. As my mind was racing, I ruffle my hair. A glorious dark red. I think back on dying it after graduation. A pathetic attempt to shred the old Danny and embrace my new identity. Eventually, I find myself in front of the butcher. Grabbing my chicken, I start to wheel to the checkout but I see Stella again. New route to checkout then. I finally arrive at checkout but the cashier is a familiar skinnie. I got so lost in thought, I didn't see the customer in front of me move swiftly. Somebody is in a rush. The cashier puts on a fake smile and asks me the familiar question. "Is that all?" Swallowing the huge lump in my throat, I finally croak out the words "Anon? Is that you?" The cashier looks shocked that someone remembers him. He mumbles under his breath "Someone recognizing me after Volcano High? I'm staring at the red haired classmate that got shot by Fang and survived." I chuckle a bit, my throat still dry "You still mumble under your breath like a weirdo, that's funny" Time for the dreaded part of this process. As I lift myself from my wheelchair, I feel how heavy I really am. Fuck, my arms wont last with this. I look at Anon and the other customers. I can sense their sorryness for me. Brushing it off, I grab the counter and try to grab a bag. Not before my legs let out.