Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

sat there, paralyzed by my fear, for a good hour or so because the next thing I knew someone had sat down next to me and there were early morning joggers and commuters dotting the sidewalks and trails nearby.
    "Here," a rough voice next me said as I noticed a hand invading my personal space. I looked up and saw what appeared to be genuine homeless person handing me half a bagel. His blue eyes peered steadily out at me from under a ragged wool beanie, and the arm stretched between was covered in the stained sleeve of an ancient grey hoodie.
    I shook my head and said, "I'm good. I don't need any food." The last thing I wanted to do was take some homeless guy's breakfast.
    He smiled warmly at me and replied, "I didn't think you did, clean and pink as your skin is. You did look like you could use a friend though."
    My jaw dropped open and I gaped at him for a good ten seconds before I managed to stammer out a "Thank you" and take the bagel he was offering.
    He leaned back on the bench and stretched his arm across the back. We were just far enough apart that his hand didn't quite touch my shoulder. He took a deep breath and I could hear the smile in his voice as he said, "Beautiful morning innit?"
    For a moment I couldn't respond, and then I followed his gaze to the sky where the newly risen sun was heralded by a cacophony of colors I had never really taken the time to notice before. Warmth was just beginning to spread across the ground, and I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me as I watched a full grown duck trying to chase after a bunch of tiny ones near the water.
    In that moment, as a new day was starting, sitting next to a complete stranger and holding half a stale bagel, I laughed until I cried. I didn't stop until it had turned to laughing again. When I had settled back down into a normal breathing rhythm again, the stranger shifted forward and got up to leave. He patted me briefly on the shoulder and said, "There you go, son" before he walked off into the park again.
    After a few more moments on my bench, I grabbed my bag and decided I just needed to take things one step at a time. Step 1: Go to the bank and see if I can get any more money and then destroy my ATM and credit cards.
    As I was striding purposefully down the sparsely populated sidewalk, I almost had a heart attack as I heard my phone ring in my pocket. I looked at the caller ID and was completely flabbergasted to see Shea's name flashing across the screen. After one ring's deliberation I pressed the accept button.
    "Shea?"
    "Oh My God, Jason. Where the fuck are you?" He sounded beyond panicked.
    I put ice in my voice as I replied, "Not sure I want to tell you that right now. Especially after seeing Tommy bust into your apartment with a gun last night!"
    "Jesus, Jason. Whatever you took, you gotta bring it back. Do you have any clue who you're dealing with? He'll kill you."
    It was what I had been thinking all night but it didn't really help to have my fears confirmed. Rather than argue with Shea, which would have been pointless, I just hung up my phone and with a wince threw it in the nearest garbage can.
    I went to my bank and withdrew another $9,000 staying just below the $10,000 reporting minimum and just about cleaning out my savings account. I stopped at a thrift store and bought some clothes. I bought a pay as you go cell phone, and then I bought six bus tickets and four train tickets all going to different places across the US and Canada– all with my credit card.
    Finally I hopped on the next local bus that stopped and rode it until I was on the outskirts of the city. I got off the bus as soon as I spotted a cheap used car lot. I spent a good chunk of my cash buying the cheapest car on the lot and a little bit more to not have the paperwork processed for a week.
    I headed south for as long as I could stay awake, which turned out to be about thirteen hours. I ended up somewhere in West Virginia. I traded my car for an even cheaper looking car at a local truck stop. I warned the guy that he might have trouble come after him but he pulled a fierce looking shot gun out of his trunk and just smiled at me. My nightmares will now be haunted by armed rednecks. I almost felt sorry for Tommy. But only almost.
    I drove for two more days before the car died completely just inside the Albuquerque city limits. It was getting dark outside so I left the car abandoned in a parking lot and started walking. I must have looked to be in a right state when a