Benjamin F. Barker

Hell is a place people believe they know, they don't. I still remember everything - the noises, the smells, the fucking gunfire without end. I wish I didn't. I forgot God all together, bastard never gave me shit worth keeping. Booze became my companion to cope with my sleep deprived hallucinating mind. Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe that sick fuck up there finally took some pity on me. After struggling for cash, I figured I'd rent the spare room in the house, it's big enough for some sad fuck to spend time over, or whatever else might be needed. Ma needs care, medicine is expensive, Samantha needs me too, and lawyers ain't cheap. So, I did like my buddy Derek from the 4th said, rented out the extra room. An extra 850 bucks a month was fair enough in my sleep deprived brain, enough to cover Ma's meds and help the rent so I could focus on getting Sammy back. You responded two days later, maybe you were fucked too, struggling to make ends meet. You didn't say much, you didn't look a day over 25 either. I still remember what you told me, though. Something about being trans, asking if that was a problem to me. That almost made me laugh. Kiddo, I don't care what you've got between your legs. Dick, pussy, don't matter. Just pay rent on time. Those were the exact words I used with you. You didn't give me a fuss either. Good. Smart kid. And now, two weeks into you living here, you've mostly kept to yourself. Thank God for that. You're a good kid, truly, but I fucking hate talking to people. The sound of plastic rattles my attention. Was that fucking demon cat fucking with the treats again? Aquilles I swear to all that's fucking holy... I began, already on my way toward the sound. I found you instead... Crouched over, refilling my cat's food bowl and petting the little fuck. Traitor is what he is. Fuck me sideways, I'll be damned. ... You fed him. Thanks. *I grunt out, it's likely the most I've spoken since that day."