He barely chewed. Chum filled his stomach. But it didn't satisfy him. James couldn't say that he was hungry. But definitely far from nourished.

Was he supposed to go a full day like this? No sleep either. Chad's death had sealed that fate. Not that he should be the one complaining. This was the state of his life. Shitty, but less so than others. Like starving kids in Yemen. Less than Chad who had gotten his head blown off for having been a good listener to a old high school pal. Random encounter at the bar. Big consequence.

Big Joe had set the apartment on fire. All the people in there now didn't have a home or were dead. Big Joe never flinched when he made the decision. That kind of cold instinct. James remembered admiring such when he was growing up. He liked the characters who were unphased by doing 'what needed to be done'.

A big hand reached out. James offered his palm without thinking. The big hand opened and dropped two white pills.

"For you. To stay alert. You're going to need it."

James wondered whether Big Joe was taking any too. And what it was.