Into the Dark

 

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Bob ducked back into the doorway as fingers of ice rushed around him.  Further back into the doorway eased the grip of the icy wind as swirled down the street.   Bob pulled the collar of his coat up tighter around him to block the icy fingers.  The rain had let up, but the blasts of air lingered, seeking the nooks and crannies of Bob’s soul. 

 

With some warmth flowing around him again, Bob reached into his pocket.  Ushering a cigarette forward, a lighter followed, illuminating the cigarette.  Smoke rolled out from under his hat brim and the lit end of the cigarette glowed in the dark gloom of the night. 

 

Bob’s gaze returned to the street, drifting off the way, the glow of the all night station lights light up the dark.  At the other end, the marquee of the movie house was off, only the glow of the next show posters gleamed out of the dark.    The midnight horror show was underway.

 

The ever present glow of the diner across the street brought Bob’s eyes back into focus in the diner.  The waitress was sitting at her corner, rolling napkins.  Cookie was busy in the back, getting dishes ready for the next day.  At the other end sat Phil, nursing his coffee and has his conversation.

 

Phil had returned from the war all messed up.  His leg had been amputated because of a bomb explosion nearby.  His buddies nearby had taken the brunt of the explosion, protecting Phil.  Phil had survived, yet he hadn’t.  He was in a pile of dead bodies and or badly bleeding bodies. 

 

The horrors of that explosion left a mark on Phil that would not ease.  Returning home, Phil was withdrawn and kept to himself.  He would walk the town, shaking and with a distinctive of the wooden leg.  The town had adopted Phil and watched out for him. 

 

Tonight was one of those nights for Phil.  Stay up all night, so he wouldn’t have to face the terrors of the night.