Description
He breathed in the pungent smell of smoke and coughed as he tried to catch his breath. His throat felt constricted while wanting to fight the sensation of being strangled by the hot, dry air. Panic-stricken, Cash clutched at his neck to try in vain to pry what he thought were invisible hands away from his skin. He found success with this as his throat opened up for him to gasp for air.
Cash managed to sit up in bed and opened his eyes to the morning light flooding in through his window as sunrise greeted Los Angeles. Although the floor should still have felt cool, the soles of his feet burned to discomfort him further. He rubbed his eyes as he attempted to focus more, yet the sunlight’s reflection off a wall-hung mirror blinded him.
Crawling out of bed, he walked a few steps over to the kitchen sink in his studio apartment. It was no surprise to him that the cold water faucet only offered hot water. He only took a sip from his glass before he poured the rest down the drain. He chose not to bother opening his small refrigerator, knowing that the soda, orange juice, and milk inside would be just as hot.
Shedding his white boxer shorts, Cash walked naked into his bathroom and turned on the shower. He kept the light off as he was not ready to look at himself in the mirror. The steaming water scorched his skin as he lathered soap over his tired muscles and then rinsed off. With a towel wrapped around his waist, he turned on the light and looked at himself in the mirror. As expected, his body was sunburned a deep bronze. Disheartened by his reflection, he turned off the light and was not startled when the light turned on on its own. This time, the light bulbs blazed brightly as each was an individual sun tempting him to stare into it. He willed himself to resist doing so.
He dressed himself in torn and faded blue jeans, white socks, and matching white shoes, and a white athletic shirt that caressed his muscular frame. With his wallet in his back pocket and the key for his motorcycle, he walked over to the door, looked at it with dread as he understood what would come before dawn tomorrow. But there was no resisting what he would be forced to endure. Not long ago, he had unknowingly sold his soul to Death when given the chance to live.
After climbing down the fire escape of his apartment building, Cash got on his motorcycle and drove off, heading east. Depending on traffic, his trip would take roughly three and a half to four hours. He knew that he could keep his eyes closed the entire time, as he understood he would not be in control of his motorcycle. An unseen force would be driving to ensure he did not stray off the path. On his lips, he could already taste the desert sand.
