The Shining

(1987)

(This isn't finished.)

 

Outside the sun was beginning to rise, casting pinks and oranges across the darkened sky. Tom opened the sliding glass door and walked onto the balcony, the freshly fallen snow crunching beneath his boots. As he peered over the rail at the city, an icy wind whipped hair across his tired face. He pulled a strand of ink black hair behind his right ear with quick fingers.

 

"Getting an early start?" Eric asked as he squared his body in the doorway.

 

Tom shook his head. "Hardly,"

 

"Haven't slept?"

 

He turned away from the view of the city and plopped down in plastic chair. "Not a wink. Hey, do you have a cigarette on you?" He threw his legs over the rail of the balcony and leaned back in his chair.

 

"Don't even think about taking up that habit again, Tom. You're not fooling anybody. What do you think Kayla would say if you came home with a cigarette between your fingers?"

 

Tom threw back is head and closed his eyes against the morning sun. The little drummer boy in his head beat louder with every word that exploded out of his friend's mouth. The headache was unbearable.

 

"Do you have any Excedrin, then?"

 

Eric checked the pockets of his coat, but pulled them out empty with a fake expression of sympathy painted on his face. "Sorry, man."

 

"It's alright," Tom breathed. "I'm sure Jeff has something. I'll have him bring a few pills with him to breakfast."

 

There was a moment of silence before Eric could ask, "Are you okay?"

 

Another gust of wind whipped past Tom's face. It whistled in his ear and send a throbbing pain toward the back of his head. He shoved his hair back with shaky hands and turned his face away from the wind's current.

 

"I don't think you're feeling too well, Tom Tom. Maybe you should eat breakfast in your room."

 

"I'm feeling fine. I just have a nasty headache. It could happen to anyone."

 

"I don't want you to start chewing on pills. That's what drove Jack Nicholson insane."

 

Tom chuckled and wrapped his arms tightly against his chest. Oh please, Eric, he thought. I smoke a few packs in high school and you think I'm going to amount to a murder spree.

 

"That's only a movie, Eric. That can't even happen."