Escape - chapter 2

 

James sat on his garden wall, his feet dangling over the edge. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small spliff and a bright red lighter.

Flicking the lighter on and off with his slender fingers, he watched the flame dance around in the wind. It was a nice day he thought to himself, not to hot, not to cold, and no sign of rain to disrupt his afternoon. He placed the spliff between his lips and lit it, taking a deep pull and exhaling. He felt his chest rise and his lungs fill and empty.

His mind began to clear; a comforting distance began to form between him and the world he’d grown to despise. One hand curled tightly over the wall, the other holding his escape.  Suddenly he started to hum to himself, very quietly and very slowly, with absolutely no tune or rhythm at all, his body began to sway to an unheard beat. He carried on like this for hours, taking pulls from his hand made heaven, swaying, humming. Until eventually the spliff ran out.

He opened his eyes and grimaced, almost like he’d forgotten the world would still be there when he was done. A small flick from his left hand sent the f*g end spiralling into some nearby bushes, and with that he jumped down of the wall and made his way to the front door.