Day - 100 Every day was the end of the world

 Every day was the end of the world 

Matthew Ryan Fischer

 

Every day was the end of the world. Every day was another new unending crisis. One perpetual grind where nothing was ever finished and no boss was ever satisfied. Tommy hated the life for a long time now. When he was young, he was known as a real go-getter and had big dreams and a whole set of unrealistic goals and plans. Time tables never worked out and Tommy hadn’t risen any ranks or accrued many riches. He was a low-level mule, delivering what he was told to deliver, never asking questions and always turning a blind eye. Lighting the world on fire was still left unchecked.

The man in the tan suit had given him a pamphlet. Normally Tommy wouldn’t have accepted it. Normally Tommy would have been looking the other way. But he was lost in thought and hadn’t noticed the tan suit walking his way.

Religious. Of course, it was religious. “Enjoy Life Forever!” exclaimed the front page of the pamphlet. One hell of a promise. Tommy was pretty sure they could have used a comma or em dash in there. Why stop at just one exclamation point? Maybe two or three. They were promising not only eternal life, but also eternal happiness. They could have made a whole production out of it. Really try and sell the promise.

The tan suit man wanted to talk, but wasn’t pushy. Tommy appreciated that. It wasn’t that he was against religion, he just didn’t need the lecture. Life was full of impossible choices and Tommy had made a great many bad ones and was pretty sure he knew where he was going when it was all over. Saying a few words, or a few splashes of water weren’t going to redeem his misbegotten soul.

Tommy didn’t waste much breath on the tan suited man. He didn’t know how much more he was going to get. Justin had pulled him aside and told him to get out of town. Someone was spreading rumors that Tommy had been skimming cash and that was going to get him killed.

Tommy couldn’t go back to his apartment. He couldn’t pick up his go-bag. He couldn’t clear out any of his stash of cash. Someone would be waiting for him and he could never prove his innocence. He knew he should just get in a car and go, but he was waiting on Sheila to get home. For all he knew, she was rat him out, or maybe she was the one who started the rumors in the first place. But he wanted to give her a chance. He hoped she would come with him. There was no rational reason to believe she’d risk her life, but he was hoping she was just that sort of romantic.

The tan suited man asked Tommy if everything was alright. Tommy nodded and the man moved on, more pamphlets to hand out.

Tommy looked at the front cover again. “Enjoy Life Forever!” If only it were that easy.

Tommy couldn’t wait any longer. He had to move. Sheila would get home, but he’d be gone. Without thinking, he pocketed the pamphlet. Something made him want to hang on to it a bit longer.