Sand Timer- Part 7 (Charlie)

I trudged along through the mild heat of summer. It was late, the sky was black and the street was orange under the glaring street lights. I'd shrugged on my black duffel coat before I'd left and had my hands buried deep in the pockets. I was walking back from the local grocery store after having bought a carton of milk and some cans of food, which I carried in a flimsy plastic bag wrapped around my wrist. It bounced against my leg every step I took and I was quickly getting frustrated with it as I imagined the bruises it would leave on my pale skin. With each stride, I subconsciously calculated the weight it would decrease and hated myself with each thought of every lost pound. I'd finally left the hospital, I wasn't going to risk anything that might send me back but it was just force of habit, I'd trained myself to look for every calorie and work for every loss. Shaking my head slightly, I shut the thoughts out of my mind and focussed on tonight. It was already about ten and Debbie's party was at half past. Chewing my lip, I squirmed at the idea and tried to remember why I'd agreed to it in the first place. No comfort came however and my mind remained blank, save the silent beating as it screamed at me for accepting the invitation.
Breathing out loudly, I huffed as I pulled my hand out of my pocket to press the little button on the traffic lights. Then rocked on the balls of my feet as I waited for the lights to change. I wasn't aware of much, as I frowned at the road below me and shuffled across the crossing, thinking to hard about the fear of the party tonight. But sudden horn beeps tore my interest away and I returned to reality to see a huge black car surge toward me. The lights momentarily blinded me with the full beams and then they were gone and the incredible sound of metal crashing against metal buzzed my ears and rang out in the empty night air.