Just another day. Waking up the sun shines through the window. He rolls over to get the light out of his eyes, but sleep was going to be the last thing he'd be getting this morning. The mans phone starts blaring a jaunty tune. The least offensive tone he could pick for his alarm.  Time to get up for another day.  Despite his unwillingness to get up in a timely fashion. He has a smile on his face. "One more day" he whispers to himself

 Rolling out of bed he stumbles to the bathroom while scratching his side to relieve himself of his morning burdens. Hopping into the shower he snaps wide awake. "Too cold too cold!" he exclaims holding his hand to the spout he quickly adjusts the water to a temperature bordering on scalding . Finishing the shower he dries and gets dressed. Despite the slow start to his day he has a spring in his step as he whistles to himself. Opting for a quick breakfast, he toast some bread and applies some butter. Downing  a cup of coffee as well he sets out for his  day of work. Looking at the clock. "Times up." He rushes out of his home and jumps into his car to make the morning trek to the office building he works.

He made his way through traffic slowly making it to work with just enough time to not be considered late. His boss lax on many things same down hard on being late. Walking into the building he greets John the security guard that the building owners insist on having in place. John is good folk, but sometimes he like to chat a bit much, Often holding James up for minutes at a time. James not being able to be rude to bypass him and not get dragged into a conversation once it had started.

"Good morning James. How are you doing on this fine morning?" James can tell that if he lets this started up he is going to be pulled in a conversation that would result in his tardiness.

"Good morning John. No time to chat. traffic was a bitch this morning and I'm running behind schedule." 

"Well you best be getting on then. Say hi to Doug for me. I missed him. in the can when he came in this morning."

"Will do." he says running his card through the scanner. Going through the security door be makes his way to his desk. "Just in the nick of time" he says as he logs into his computer and preps for the day. As he sits there organizing his work station, a man comes up to his desk with a steaming cup of coffee without a care in the world. 

"Hey James. You look like shit, did you get enough sleep last night?" he says taking a sip from his coffee.

"What's up Doug?"

Doug takes another drink form his coffee and starts to narrate his night to James. James not wanting to be rude politely listens. Doug drinks like a fish and somehow is able to be bright and early the next day with no signs of a hang over, unlike James who is one and done with alcohol in general. Even though Doug is the only person he talks with at work, the don't have much in common with each other. Doug being older doesn't have much interest in pop culture and games, likes to go to sports bars and drink the night away and hit on the waitresses. James would rather stay home and Play games and read.

Nodding along when appropriate with the lurid story of Doug's latest conquest, he lets James know about the team meeting this morning. Morning meetings never good information. They give it to you so you can stew about it all day like the sadists they are.

Taking another sip from his coffee " I bet that it is about the new contract finally." The company had just secured a new contract with a big insurance company selling there coverage. It's good for business but that typically comes with being more busy. James is very much a nine to five type of person. He doesn't live for his job but works to live. 

"I hope this doesn't interfere with my vacation. I set it up two months ago and it starts tomorrow."

Stolen story; please report.

" I don't know how you enjoy fishing. I know you enjoy your nerd activities but fishing seems so boring."

" I just enjoy getting a little out door activity and this is what I find the most relaxing." I say that but the real reason is I go in honor of my father who passed away. Growing up i never liked fishing either, being more of an indoor person, but that change when my dad died. It was the one activity he wanted to do together, Just sit on a lake and be together.

We see Alex out boss come out of his office. "Alright team time for the morning pow wow."

"Alright lets start the team meeting guys and gals." he goes on how he has good news and announces the new client had finalized signing the contract with us. He mentions that it is going to be busier and that vacation and time off is going to be more sparse going forward. I hope that is not going to affect my vacation that has already been set. I did set it up over two months ago. After the meeting I approach Alex.

"Hey boss. Can I speak with you for a sec."

"Sure James."

He takes me aside and I let him know about my vacation situation. 

"Don't worry about it James like I said it is a policy going forward and you have had that vacation set for about two months at this point."

I let out a breath that I didn't know i was holding. I just expected to be screwed over due to company needs. You Forget that the people in charge are people too and capable of understanding reason. 

"Thanks Alex that had me sweating the entire meeting." 

"Well that's no prob. You enjoy your vacation and catch a big one for me."

I walk back to my desk and start my day of work. Thinking to myself I need to be a little less negative I start my day of work. Everything is coming up Millhouse.

Despite the rough start the rest of the day went relatively well. No annoying clients or needless busy work. A day as good as one could hope for. Finishing his day on a good note. He clocked out and got up from his desk. On his way out he waved to Doug and let him know he'll see him next week and not to work to hard without him there. The traffic on the way home was lighter than normal and that was just fine with him. Grabbing a burger from a local burger joint he went home to prep for his trip tomorrow. After getting home he packed his camping equipment, fishing rod, and tackle box in the car so he'd be ready at the crack of dawn.

The next day I get up early and do one last double check. Just like dad better to take it slow and be safer rather than sorry. Having completed his last minute check, he got into the car and pulled out of his driveway. Turning on the radio he was prepared for the four hour trip that  it would take to get to his dad's secret fishing hole. Traffic was light and he made good time. Heading into the middle of nowhere, to a lake up in the mountains, he was prepared to stay five days out in the wilderness fishing and reminiscing. Dad's secret spot that he had learned from his father before him was the perfect mix of picturesque and isolated. The roads are a bit rough getting there but as long as he drove carefully and slow he'd get there with no issues. Well he might have underestimated the roads just a bit. Apparently it had rained the previous night up here and the roads turned into a tar-pit.

"I can do it I just got to be careful." he says trying to reassure himself. "Some bad roads aren't going to ruin my vacation."

Going as slow as he possibly he can he comes up to a bend in the road. Narrow with a cliff on one side and a precipitous drop on the other he slows down even more. The tires of his car are having trouble getting traction but he repeats to himself " Slow and steady." He feels it before he sees it. a vibration that doesn't belong to his vehicle. Just as he makes the bend a cracking rumbling sound break the early morning quiet. A rockslide is headed right at him. attempting to hit the gas to get out of the way in desperation, the wheels spin and kick the mud up. The last thing he thinks before the rocks slam into the card is "Oh shit!"

The rocks don't just push him off the road. The car luckily didn't plummet down the rock side. Feeling groggy after  having his face slammed into the steering wheel, James looks out and can only see air. The car hanging precariously over the edge. Keeping calm he attempt to unbuckle his seat belt and get out of the car. It was not to be though as the motion in the car was enough to tip the balance in the wrong direction. The vehicle slowly slides down and as he plummets, for one brief moment he is weightless. 

The fall takes what feels like a lifetime to James. The ground rushing to meet him. The car slams into a tree and then the ground.  Darkness takes James and the last thought in James's mind is about it not being the fall that kills you but that sudden stop.