Jim

Jim was quickly losing it. The more time he spent in his truck on the job, the more time he had to think about things. The more time he had to think about things, the more he felt he was going crazy. His behaviour had began to change. He got irritable very quickly and became agitated over small, insignificant details. He lashed out at his friends whenever they stepped on his toes. He realised this change but couldn't seem to control it. He grew moody and his emotions would fluctuate between two ends of the spectrum. One moment he would be angry and tense. The next, he was shedding a tear over the sight of two children playing. He was happiest when he didn't have to think. Watching movies and playing computer games were a good means of escapism. He filled his schedule with activities and kept himself busy, but he knew it was only a matter of time. He couldn't trust himself to be alone. He would feel like cutting himself or ramming his truck into a tree. Suddenly taking his own life seemed like an option. He knew that was something he should never consider but he was slowly losing his grip on reality. Life began to feel like a cruel game. One that had no restart option. He thought through all the various ways he could get it done. He could even plan it to look like an accident. Then suddenly he was sure suicide was not the way. He had to practise what he preached. Too many people were counting on him. He was too responsible then to do something as foolish as that. But it was precisely his responsible nature that was causing Jim all this anxiety. He had always been taught never to run away from a problem. But today was going to be different. It was his 3rd delivery of the day and it took him to the outskirts of his small hometown. However, instead of turning into the lane that would bring him to Mac's Hardware, Jim drove on and didn't stop. He floored the pedal and the roar of the engine made his heart pound. He was no longer going to be Jim. As the distance between him and Soundry town grew, Jim realised he could no longer be Jim. He was driving away from his life as he knew it. His family, his job, his friends and everything that made him Jim for the past 28 years. He was a free man, and it felt incredible in a frightening kind of way. He was no longer Jim, Jim was gone, dead, killed...