I swallow as he looks back up at me and offers the lighter. He has to hold it out a second too long. “You going to take it?” he asks.

“Shit,” I tell him. “Forgot my cigs.”

He pushes off the brick wall, the prick is my height now. For a fraction of a second, I think he might recognize me, but he doesn’t seem to.

“You trying to bum one?” he asks then adds, “Bum.”

As he takes a step forward, I remember the times we were this close before. When I couldn’t fight back.

“Do you remember me?” I ask and his brow creases as if he’s trying to think of where he can place me. How can he not remember?

I don’t mean to do it so quickly, I wanted to ask him so many haunting questions. The thoughts that keep me up at night… but I suppose they’ll go unanswered.

I strike out with my left hand, blade to his throat, once then twice. With each jab I pull up, slicing the inner cords and making the most of every stab. Wide eyes stare back in shock and then I do it again. His hands reach up, first towards me, but quickly to defense. To try to block another blow. To try to keep the streaming blood from the gashes in his throat.

His knees give out and he falls to his back. Sputtering blood as he tries to scream out for help.

“Let me help you remember, Mr. Jay.” I speak calmly as I lean over his body under the sole light that hangs down the alley. With one foot on either side of him, and the blood spilling from his neck and mouth, I lean closer to make sure he can hear me.

His eyes are full of terror and I think then, maybe he remembers.

“Welcome to hell,” I hiss and stab again and again and again.

It’s over in only minutes. All of it. Including the cleaning of the blade and slipping the jacket inside out after wiping off any evidence from my hands and face. I carry the bundle under my shoulder and the gravel crunches beneath my feet as I head back to my truck around the corner.

After I climb in and turn on the lights I look back to the bar. One person leaves and I watch the car go, none the wiser that there’s a dead body only ten feet from the entrance, hidden only by trash bags.