  Just one, to ease the nerves. He plucked on from the cartridge and placed it between his lips before grabbing his lighter. He flicked it open and rolled his thumb over it once, twice, three times. The small flame was placed to the end of the cigarette before he flipped the lighter closed and pushed it onto his table.
   He took a long breath and eased his shaggy head back as his eyes fell closed. The rain pattered against the window in front of him as he plucked the cigarette from his lips only to spill the smoke from his lips.
   Roman checked his phone only to see an empty lock screen. He flicked it to silent and rested it to the table beside him as well before he took another long drag from his treat. It filled his chest with that full burn that he needed so badly before he put it out in his only ashtray.Â
   He watched the storm outside. The sudden lightning, the barreling thunder, and the endless rain. His body sagged against the side of the couch, a hand reaching up to wipe over his eye as he sighed.Â
   Hard night. Tired, but not sleepy. Tired, but still able to move. Why was he tired? What was making him tired?
   He didn’t know anymore. It’d been a feeling that cropped up every so often for as long as he can remember, and now was that time. His head felt heavy as he rested it to the arm rest. His body scrunched together in a ball as he pulled the throw blanket over himself.
  There was hope that sleep would find him sooner rather than later. Maybe a peaceful night could lead to a peaceful mind.
