Anonymous Sun 25 Aug 2024 21:37:32 No.68585375 Report

>>68585288
E1 anon's life 5 years later

Anonymous Sun 25 Aug 2024 22:32:26 No.68587067 Report

>>68585375

>I pull another deep drag from my cig. Stills the nerves, stops the shakes. I blow a deep puff of smoke. The front door opens, one of my coworkers coming out to join.
>Warren joins me. Older guy, dino. Graying hair, bald circle rimming around his crest. Silvery, almost cyan tint his base and a deep blue, bordering purple line runs down his face, under his chin.
>"Anon." His gravely voice acknowledges me. We don't speak much other than these little smoke breaks, his section and mine don't intermingle much. I'm data entry and he's some management if I'm remembering right.
>I nod to him as he pulls out his own cigarette. He eyes mine in my hand.
>He asks, mouth half-shut. "Menthol, still?" I nod to him. Nasty things but I've never been able to quit them.
>We share the moment a while, just staring into the distance, almost people watching.
>He makes small talk. "How long you been smoking?"
>"About six years." Warren does some mental math.
>"Right oughta high school?" I nod to him. and blow another cloud. My stick almost done.
>"Got sucked into it near the end of Junior." The memory dull and ancient. Gray and lifeless. I pray it stays that way.
>"Rough." He pulls deep on his own. "Menthols at that?" He half-chuckles.
>I don't know why but I can't stop the words. I try to just say yes but something catches a ride.
>"Girlfriend in my Senior year got me onto them." The fiery emotion long since dead. All that remains is a cold empty void. I can't even feel the pain of it anymore.
>"Women, huh? It was my wife that got us into these." He flicks some ash.
>"Said it helped with weight loss." He chuckles once more. "Money loss, too." I snicker alongside him. Another pull or two and I'm done.
>"Sounds like a great woman." I dryly joke back.
>He shakes his head. "Love her to death but she's gonna be the end of me. You know how it is." He goes for another pull.
>As he breathes a cloud out he speaks. "You and that girl still talk?" I stare at the concrete.
>"No."
cont.

Anonymous Sun 25 Aug 2024 22:36:35 No.68587195 Report

Quoted By: >>68587243 >>68587629

>>68587067
>He notices how quick I was to answer. "Rough, huh? I won't pry."
>For some reason I want him to. Haven't really talk about this to anyone, ever. Seems it wants to spill out of me. I hold it in.
>We spend the next minute or so in silence as I watch the ash drip from my smoke. Finally deciding I'm done slouching I pull one last drag and drop the butt, stamping it out.
>"See ya, Warren." I wave at him as I start back inside. I hear him call from behind me.
>"Take it easy, Anon." I step back into the office and head towards the elevator in the back.
>Third floor. The ding opens the doors and I walk back to my cubicle, taking my place back at my desk.
>A few more minutes before I'm expected to start tapping away again so I pull my phone out.
>There I stare at the dating app, again. For so long I've just had this, never completing a setup. Always leering at it late at night when I feel alone. I flip my phone face down. Eventually.
>I stretch back and pop my neck a few times before returning my hands to the keyboard.

Fin