“This is where I stop.”

He relaxed his every muscle and sunk to Earth, lying open-eyed as he fell.

“I’m done.”

He stilled his mind and body. The sand stung as the winds came. He waited for nothing. He felt breath cross his nostrils and was aware of a steady pumping. He relaxed further, melting into a sodden mess. Salt on his lips and name on his tongue, he gave it all away. In a little while he would be free. He drifted on. He drifted free.

“Hey! Lost-In-Thought!”

He snapped around, surprised. A giant man limped toward him. He stopped his slow shuffle and straightened slightly. His mouth twitched in an aborted smile.

“You better stop that,” the giant bellowed. Then softer, “You OK?”

He shook his head and looked back down.

“What am I always telling you about not dying?” Giant teeth appeared in a giant grin. “Well, if your gonna die, best do it now. I know you ain’t eat’n, so there won’t be so much shit to clean up.”

He coughed an amused grunt. A giant hand on his shoulder. He worked up a semblance of a smile.

A giant step, and he was alone again. Souls scraping pavement, worn thin, wobbly. They all limped on.