Eliezer woke up mildly depressed.

No more High School. No More Service either. Because he’s a Fuc- He was Injured in the line of duty.

All the excitement is gone. Over and done with.

Now what.

Not even mom is here to call him for breakfast or however that’s supposed to work. His phone rings with the sound of a message.

Good morning to myself.

Before he goes to check what it was, his mind goes to the closet.

It’s a cliche, but maybe…

He walks toward the closet, his back twitches wirh small pains when he forgets just how to properly walk without making it worse. He opened the closet door, among his shirts he eventually finds it.

The little bag.

He opens it and takes them out.

After he puts on the Tefillin, recites the blessings…

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

It does feel better.

A part of him is insulted. He doesn’t even believe in G-d.

But, that part can go hang.

Later, he manages to do some sweeping. And decides to go out on a walk. Maybe he will look for some work he can do.

He doesn’t need to, technically. If he doesn’t spend much.

Mom and Dad are not going to stop helping with any small thing that the stipend will not cover.

And…

He wants to feel useful.

The rest of the day is spent in a fogue.

And the next week.

Things get good. He finds a Job as a receptionist in a Gym. 

…

“Hey Ely.”

He turns toward the voice.

“Hey Rany. How’s the Wife and kids?”

Rany has no wife and kids, it’s a figure of speech. Rany smiles back at him.

“Everything is cool.”

He begins to cross the street toward his friend.

He suddenly sees Rany’s face go from a smile that is almost a laugh, almost instantly toward horror.

But his brain never registers the hit.

…