R e t r o s p e c t • PSYPHY

Chapter 6: C a r p e D i e m

"Where are you going?"

"Listen, you're not my dad. You can't tell me what to do," Syeef says.

"I am your father! You're only here because of me."

Syeef looks directly at him.

"No you're not! Even if you think you are in some twisted way. You're not. Stop acting like it. In reality you're the one who's only here because of me. I foresaw the destruction. I know Isaac, and Caasi the most. You, and those two morons, think just because we're all in this together that we have the same level of significance. We don't. This is my mission. You're all here for mutual circumstances and you know it."

The elder stares at Syeef, looks him up and down before forming a response.

"You needed me here. My experience with the organization outranks you all. You may have brought the mission to our attention but you cannot execute it alone. This is above you. This above me. If Chains Of Fate finds out about this we're all dead. If Caasi continues to make mistakes, we're all dead. If I do not have all of your complete fidelity and cooperation than this only further complicates everything. Don't you dare fuck this up." The elder said.

He continued smoking. Syeef shakes his head while letting out a sarcastic chuckle. 

"Just because you may have been head honcho in your timeline, doesn't mean that applies here. I know what I'm doing," Syeef says, before finally turning away and exiting the alley.

"Tell me where you're going!"

"To visit dear old mom!" he yells back.

Back in Downtown, Baltimore.

It was a sacrifice but I think it was worth it. I had to choose something cheaper on the menu. This was required if I wanted the best of both worlds. I separated enough to catch the bus to the Chinese restaurant. And managed to order something I like when I got here - Saving time on my commute, and getting my little dopamine reward. My phone died before I got on the bus. Normally that would send me into a slight panic. But, I'm honestly burned out. After the day I had, I just wanted to relax. I wanted to take it easy, be glad that I was back home. I wanted to have my favorite food, in my favorite restaurant, then just go back home and crawl into bed. 

Logically, I should be thinking of how the hell I'll get home. But that felt like more responsibility. Even if it was something important, I still didn't want to think about that stuff right now. I wanted peace.

I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

The steady sounds of people eating surrounded me. Forks hitting plates, idle conversation being made. The workers hustled through the restaurant. The many scents of the Asian cuisine hit me like a bed of rose peddles each time one passed. My stomach growled. I was waiting for my meal for a while. I needed an egg roll in my life right now. Sure the boneless spare ribs were my entree. But there's nothing like that classic staple of whatever ethnic food you're eating. It is the first thing I think of when I think Chinese food anyway. 

The waiter comes to my table for one, and puts the plate of ribs in front me. Steam exudes off of them, almost comically elevating right into my nostrils. I take them in, smelling it so hard that I can practically taste the barbecue. 

"Enjoy," he says.

I nod, as he leaves and continues his work. 

I pick up my fork and egg roll from the side dish. I tear it open with my teeth, eating the top. Then I put it down, and pour some soy sauce into it. I bite it again, but this time I smash my fork into a spare rib, and shove that into my mouth too.