He grabs his parka off the coat rack, despite it only being early fall. His keys jingle as he locks the door of his apartment and heads out. 

When he was 15, he would've never imagine he'd still be in this suffocating little town as an adult. Nearly 20 years old and he goes through the motions in an open cage. Working minimum wage at the shitty gas station down the street to afford an even shittier apartment. He slides his headphones on and blasts some 80's rock that he doesn't pay full attention to. 

The gas station is a bleak place. Their only business is from truckers coming to use the 'customers only' restroom and local kids buying junk food. Most of the letters on the sign no longer illuminate, leading most to assume the place is abandoned. 

His manager is a nice woman at least.

"Good morning, Sage!" She smiles warmly. 

He puts his headphones down, "Morning, ma'am"

"Oh Sage, don't act like I'm so old," She chuckles, holding the door for him to walk in. "Seen Josh on your way?"

"You know I haven't. He's late every day." Sage slides off his parka and turns the lights on. "Why don't you just fire him?"

"He's a good worker when he's here"

Sage rolls his eyes. His coworker spends most of the day playing on his phone while Sage picks up the slack. 

~~~

The day goes by as normal. Slow business, slower hours. Sage is sweeping the ground towards the end of his shift, passing the time and eyeing the clock as it ticks down.

"Excuse me," An older woman comes up to Sage. "Young man"

"Yes, ma'am?" Sage stops sweeping. 

"There's a wild animal in your parking lot. It could be rabid." She places a hand on her hip, ''Are you going to call animal control or what?"

Sage peers out the window. There's a large fox staring into the store. 

"Yes ma'am, I'll call them," Sage tries not to sound annoyed. It's just some animal, it'll probably run off before they even get here. 

He calls animal control, and promptly clocks out. His manager waves him goodbye with her kind smile and he nods back politely. 

As he exits, the fox in the parking lot watches him. It keeps its eyes fixed on him as he walks away, not breaking its gaze until he disappears into the distace. It sends a chill down his spine. He ignores it and heads home. 

Not two steps into his apartment, his cell phone buzzes. His mother is calling. He rubs his temples before picking up.

"Hi mama," He says, trying to muster a positive tone.

"Hi baby!" His mother's high-pitched voice rings out, "I miss you!"

"I miss you too, mama," He says. "What's up?"

"Do you need any help with bills this month, baby? I can send you some money, or bring you dinner- or we could go out sometime"

"No mama, I'm fine. I sold my car, remember?"

"Yes baby I know, but I worry," Here we go. "You're so distant still, Sage, and you're always so mopey.. You used to be such a happy little boy"

"Mom-"

"Sage, you need to start making some friends! I know you miss B-"

"Don't," Sage cuts her off, "Don't say his name please. I'm fine mama."

Sage's mother sighs, "Okay baby. Call me if you need anything."

"I will, mama. Love you" 

Sage sighs as the call ends. The shitty old floorboards creek as he lowers himself to the ground and buries his head in his knees. She's right. He's an adult who works his job and lives on his own, and yet he spends all his free time acting like an angsty teenager. 

Tomorrow, he'll wake up and do it all over again. Like he always does.