The Lives We Lead
by Chad Camp
Standing up, Horris tossed his notebook down onto the gravel and bounded down the stairwell, leaping two and three steps as he went. Reaching the bottom, he tore through the lobby and out of the doors of his building, emerging on the sidewalk. She moved slightly down the sidewalk into the dark overhang of a nearby office building.
Horris rang his hands together as he moved over towards her. His mind was blank and serene. He knew exactly what needed to be done. He had reached her before he knew it.
She lifted her head some at the sound of his approach. “Hey baby, looking for a good time?” She struggled to clear her voice and pick herself off the ground. Her eyes were red and multicolored streaks of makeup were trickling down her cheeks. She snorted a few times before straightening herself.
“No thank you.” The situation was crashing in on itself and Horris began to realize that he had no idea what he was doing. She wiped her hands across her eyes before looking up to meet him.
“Then waddaya want?”
“You—you seemed like you were having a bad night.” Horris diverted his eyes for a moment before forcing them back onto her. “I live in that building over there.”
Her eyes drilled into him and the world stood still. He could hear the buzzing of the street lights and the slow passing of time.
She finally broke the silence.
“That’s life buddy. Everyone’s gotta make a living.”
“I guess they do. I sell things over the telephone for a living but I think I’m going to quit.”
Horris gave a weak smile. Her face showed nothing.
“Oh yeah?” She nodded her head and adjusted her purse on her shoulder.
“You should quit your job too. There is more than this.” he said.
Her face wavered for a moment before hardening back into place.
“You don’t know me, man.” Turning on her heal, she stalked off down the sidewalk. Horris could smell her still lingering in the air where she just stood. He watched her form sway as she went.
“What’s your name?” Horris called after her.
She slowed her pace for a moment and cast a glance over her shoulder.
“Linda.”
She rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. He could hear her heals clacking off into the distance.
Horris ascended the steps of his apartment building and believed he had planted something, something that was to fester and grow. He hoped that she was sitting somewhere reflecting on herself. That was all anyone ever really had.
Walking into his apartment he moved towards his cards and began shuffling them together. He thought about Lucile somewhere smoking away in her living room, the red haired man prowling the streets and punishing people for his insecurity, and Linda sitting at a diner somewhere, planning her escape. Horris didn’t plan on going back to work tomorrow. He shuffled his cards together and began laying them out in front of him. The set up was looking nice, should make for a smooth game.
There is more than this.
