“Damn it Joseph, get out of there!” The kid won’t listen. I don’t even know if it’d make a difference. God, I wish it would. But I wish a lot of things would, or wouldn’t. Apparently wishing ain’t worth shit.

Why didn’t the idiot hide? He heard them coming, same as me. He could’ve ducked behind some piece of trash or something and just watched the smug bastards stroll on by. But no. He had to care enough about it to go back for it. There’s nothing to go back to now, Joe. It’s gone and so are you.

Now he’s trying to talk his fool way out of it. Like you can reason with gorillas. He’s just their nightly entertainment, in lieu of the normal date rape or vandalism. And the son of a bitch is still trying to talk his way out.

You're surrounded. Just give him your fucking wallet and cry, Joe. Break down. Don’t be a man. Pride’s not a weapon, it’s a target.

Fine, keep talking. Stall for time. I’m sure the police’ll be here any minute, Joe. They might even bring you a fucking lollypop. So just keep talking. Blather on incessantly, pretend you don’t notice the gleam in their eyes. It’s all a bad dream, ain’t it Joe? Shouldn’t have had so many burritos, eh? Bad pot, it’s all one giant halleucination. Right, Joe?

God damn it Joe, what are you doing? Raising your fists like a kitten fighting a pack of hyenas? Yeah, that’s right. Give em hell, Joe. Give em hell.

And the first punch flies. You’ve stood your ground, Joe. Now you get to become well aquainted with it. And there you go, knocked off your feet. Stay down, Joe. Stay out.

Or get back up, what the hell do I know? It’s not my body. Get right back up. There. Now you’ve lost two teeth. And it would appear you’re going for the hat trick.

What do you want me to do, Joe? Do you want me to rush out and save you? Do you want me to get ground to a pulp too? Do you want me to be down on the ground now, getting kicked like a deflated basketball? Basketballs don’t have bones, Joe. You do.

God damn it. GOD DAMN IT!

What am I supposed to tell the police? I sat here in the shadows while my best friend got fucking murdered? I hid out of sight, just watching as you got your damn fool self killed? I didn’t try to get help, I didn’t try to make a distraction. I just watched. You’re nothing but blood and rags, and I’m nothing but a fucking coward. Are you happy Joe? Are you happy? Because I’m sure as hell not.

What’s Sam going to say? She’s going to cry her damn eyes out. You know I don’t like crying, Joe. You know that. What’s your mom going to say? Did you think of her? Your dad? Anyone? No, you didn’t. You went and got yourself murdered without the least consideration for the rest of us.
Damn it, Joe.

They’re finally gone. You sure did your best not to bore them though, didn’t ya Joe? God damn it. Just stay with me Joe, stay with me. I’ve got to go get some help to scrape you off the pavement. You listen to me, Joe, stay with me. Stay fucking with me you son of a bitch. Open your eyes, Joe. Open your fucking eyes, Joe. OPEN YOUR EYES!

Damn it, Joe. Damn it, damn it, damn it.

Joe…