Save a Shadow

Dyer Lane’s hands are planted on the ground; his fingers clutch the individual blades of grass. The cold dew between his fingers doesn’t make his stomach any calmer. His dinner is starting to come up; he pushes it back down and buries his chin in his chest. Smoke creeps into my nostrils. He starts to cough, Dyer’s mind races as he tries to piece together what just transpired. Dyer tries to shake off the nauseous feeling that is biting at him. Dyer’s strength gives out and he falls to the ground. A headache begins to swell, behind his eyes. He struggles to bring his hand to his forehead. He can feel the burning fever growing. Dyer’s eyes begin to flutter. He watches his hand as it begins to shake. His hear begins to beat faster. His breath becomes shorter. Dyer’s eyes close…

Dyer Lane rolls over in bed; his arm hits an empty pillow. His eyes slowly creep open. Just below his fingertips, he spots a yellow piece of paper folded neatly. Dyer pulls the note toward him, unwrapping it as his eyes begin to focus. He reads over the wispy hand written words,

“Come and find me…”

Dyer rolls to his other side and lets his feet hit the hardwood floor. Dyer yawns, “This is a studio apartment Lynn,” he gets up out of bed, “you can’t really hide in here.” He walks across the studio, playfully looking around. Dyer pokes his head into the kitchen to find his girlfriend, Lynn Rogers sitting on the counter with two cups of coffee in hand. She smiles her golden, 1000-Watt smile at him. Dyer shakes his head, “Whatever happened to breakfast in bed?”

Lynn rolls her eyes, “Not when somebody has a big interview.”

Dyer slips in close to her and takes the two mugs of coffee out of her hands. He sets them down on the counter. Dyer kisses Lynn’s neck then makes it up to her ear, “the interview isn’t for 2 hours.”

She smiles, “Oh really now?”

They passionately lock lips. Lynn wraps her legs around Dyer and he lifts her off the counter. She giggles as Dyer carries her to the bed. He sits her down on the sheets and they stare into each other’s eyes. Lynn runs her hand across his face, “I love you Dyer.”

An explosion rattles the room, Dyer pulls Lynn towards him and rolls over her as the windows shatter. The bed is showered in debris. The final piece of glass drops from the window frame as Dyer looks outside. Smoke billows from the street, Dyer checks over Lynn’s body, “Are you okay?”

She looks at him with tears welling in her eyes, “Dyer,” she can hardly catch her breath.

He pulls her close, “Babe,” her tears slither down his chest as dyer continues to comfort her while staring out the window.

Lynn pulls her head back at looks at Dyer, “What was that?”

Dyer shakes his head and rolls off the bed. He walks over the bits of glass, ignoring them as they grace his calloused feet. Dyer stares out over the city of Chicago, “I’ve gotta go.” Dyer rushes to his dresser and rips it open. He pulls on a shirt and shuffles through his sock drawer. Dyer finds his 9mm and two clips. Dyer shoves the clips in his pocket and turns to find Lynn. She has his keys in her hand. She clasps them tightly, her eyes locked on the floor. Dyer bends down, trying to get at eye level with his love. “Lynn, you know they’re going to call—“

“I know,” she replies. Dyer’s cell phone buzzes on the dresser top. Lynn looks at the phone, then back to Dyer, “Be safe.”

Dyer pulls her close, “I will.”