The Grim Room

CHAPTER 13

Photo by Damiano Fiore on Unsplash

           

Chris exploded awake, sitting up in a ninety-degree angle, sweat drenching his forehead, heart pounding out a mamba dance, eyes pulsing back and forth. He realized he was on Julian’s couch. Oh, Christ. The nightmare, about Folsom, felt so real.

            Shucking the covers off, he touched his toes and noticed his flip-phone was vibrating. Voicemail from Jim B. He’d programmed his sponsor into the phone. Good: he’d at least called him back.

            A static noise; he could hear traffic in the background. “Hi there Chris, it’s Jim. Thanks for the call. Congratulations on getting out; that’s a huge, life-changing deal! I’m proud of you, son. I hear you on the struggling. It makes sense, seeing as you’re just now getting out of state prison.

“My advice would be to hit lots of meeti…