His brother, Simon, told him that the best stargazing was in Death Valley. His brother was never the 'deep' type, but he told him that there was something real symbolic about it. "As if you were staring straight in to Valhalla itself from Earth," he said. With that kind of endorsement, Eric decided that would be a good place to work on his lyrics. He had recorded a few ideas on the drive out, but they were tenuous ideas as best. Like the stars, they seemed grouped together and needed a short line to connect, but in reality, light years away.

It was garbage, on-the-nose ideas like that Eric had to combat. He wanted to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the Valley, but the idea that there was pure garbage written on his phone kept bothering him. He even tried to delete the subpar lyrics, but when he did, they haunted him still. He had to type them all out again.

He thought this would be an excellent idea while his brother was covering a week of night shifts, but deep down, Eric knew he shouldn't have been left alone with so much...empty. Then again, he wasn't sure if Simon's company would have been much help. Afghanistan had been rough on him.

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Eric had realized that getting out of town hadn't been a cure for his writer's block within the first couple of days, but he couldn't leave. Not yet. Simon finally was able to get in with a therapist specializing in military personnel, and he seemed to be making real progress. Eric was able to make sure he went, and make it apparent that it was helping. "For the first time in months, you've managed to shit, shower, and shave in the morning without complication. Keep it up, shitheel."

"Get a real job, jagoff," was his brother's obligatory response to any encouragement. The first few times, it made him laugh. The next few times were a mere annoyance. The recruiting materials and application form were a line crossed. Eric found excuses to use the apartment's gym when the badgering was too much, a habit that Simon took and conditioning for boot camp.

"Eric, he's so close though. I'll be out there next month, if you can just help out in the mean time." His mother's words were growing stale.

Eric put his phone away and laid down on the bare ground. He tried to find pictures in the stars. He tried to find a comfortable place to lay on the ground. He tried. Instead, the dots taunted him, and a stick or a rock found it's way in his back.