The Middle of Nowhere (4)
A series set between life and death
Chapter 4 — The Water of Life
The fly landed on Jack’s face, and the tickling sensation forced him to open his eyes and shoo it away. Dim light streamed in through the Firebird’s dew-covered windows.
Jack sat up in the back seat and rubbed the sleep from his puffy eyes. His body felt stiff from sleeping in a cramped space, and his broken nose ached. He looked in the rearview mirror and examined his injured face. The swollen cheeks were a mottled mix of yellow, blue, and purple circling his eyes and nose. Dried blood covered his goatee.
Damn, I look like death warmed over.
His mouth and throat were parched, but there wasn’t even a drop in the soda bottle. His eyes fixed on the drops of dew on the windows.
Well, it’s not much, but better than nothing. Beggers can’t be choosers.
He opened the door and crawled out of the cramped interior. The air was still and cool, and a chorus of birds greeted him as he stretched his aching limbs.
Jack looked longingly at the dew on the car windows.
I guess I’ll have to lap it up like a dog.
