Miratus Eleanor walked briskly along the sidewalk, occasionally leering over the edge in hope to find a couple dollars or something to make his day worthwhile. He spotted a ripped dollar bill in the gutter and stuffed it into his front jean pocket. Money was tight this year, even more so than it had been in the past. Miratus and his brother were barely able to make ends meet, starving themselves to bed when they couldn't afford dinner. Having a drug dealer for a father didn't help their case, but Miratus didn't mind as his dad wasn't home much, and when he rarely was, he brought ladies and bottles of cheap booze along with him.
Miratus suddenly realized that he had spaced out when he was walking, and was getting deeper into the more dangerous side of Memphis. Miratus pulled his black, lint covered hoodie tighter and tried to keep his head down. It was then when Miratus spotted a glimmer of light underneath a lamp post in front of a pawn shop. He ran over to the light and reached down to find a silver engagement ring, still shiny and new. Miratus ran a finger over the words that were engraved in the band of the ring: Carpe Diem -Love, Mike.
"Seize the day..." Miratus mouthed to himself. Latin, like his own name. Delighted from his new discovery, Miratus resumed his pace, now slower because he was busy inspecting the diamond. It would be worth at least two weeks of food. Miratus felt bad to be thinking of selling someone's gift to their loved
one, but he had no choice. Miratus was so engrossed in the ring that he ran right into someone and knocked them over. The man slowly got up, taking his time to pat his hands together and dust off his pants. He turned around, revealing dark tattoos on his forehead and a scar that ran from his left ear to the top of his curled lip. Miratus stared in shock, and after coming to his senses, started to back away. He promptly stood in his tracks when the man opened his mount and released an ugly laugh that echoed into the empty street. "Now, just where do you think you're going?"
YOU ARE READING
Released
Short StoryMiratus (Latin for "wondering") Eleanor was walking in his home city of Memphis, Tennessee one night, and encounters an event that will be burned into his head for the rest of his life.
