Endurance

Six months after the wedding, a very depressed Michael is seated in an empty subway station in the Logan Square neighborhood. Michael has a bottle of booze in a brown paper bag. Michael is dressed in a brown coat, a blue hoodie, a pair of worn blue jeans, and brown boots.

Michael's phone rings. He receives a call. He checks the screen. Mitchell is calling him. He rejects the call.

Moments later, Michael receives another call. This time, it's Steven calling him. He rejects the call.

Soon after this, Michael receives another call. This time, it's Shelly calling him. He rejects the call.

Michael places the phone in his pocket, and he takes another drink out of the bottle, which is still in the paper bag. He drinks the rest of the contents, and he throws the bottle against the wall of the subway, breaking the bottle. He watches as the bottle hits the tracks.

A train is approaching the station. Michael watches as the train is about to exit the tunnel and arrive at the platform. The train stops at the station. He watches the two young women board the train, and he decides to board on the other end of the car.

Sometime later, the train stops at the Jackson Street Station, located in The Loop.

Male Automated Voice- This is Jackson. Transfer to Red Line trains at Jackson. This is a Blue Line Train to Forest Park.

Michael exits the train. He walks onto the platform of the empty station.

Male Automated Voice- Doors closing.

The doors to the train close behind Michael. The train starts leaving the station. Michael stands alone on the platform, looking around. He starts staring down the white exposed tunnel of the tracks to the station, noticing the other stations further down. He turns around, and he finds a stairwell leading to a pedway underneath the platform. He starts to walk down the stairs.

Michael makes it to the pedway, which leads to another subway station. As he walks, he notices the white and blue tiles switching to white and red. Moments later, he makes it to the flight of stairs leading to the Red Line Station. He starts to walk up the stairs.

Michael makes it to the platform of the Jackson Boulevard Red Line Station, and he starts looking around. This subway is also empty. Michael casually takes a silver flask out of his coat pocket, and he starts drinking out of it. He notices another flight of stairs, this time going upstairs to the station.

Moments later, Michael slowly walks up the stairs to Jackson Boulevard. He starts to wander the street, and he continues to wander until he sees lights pointed at him, and the lights quickly get bigger.

[Car honking at Michael, tires screeching]

Michael sees a car headed his way, and he dives back onto the sidewalk.

Driver- (screaming) Get off the road, you idiot!!

Michael drunkenly raises his fist as the driver drives away. He pulls himself up against a pole to a street light. He checks his coat pocket, and he sighs in relief as he pulls out his flask. He starts to drink out of it until he notice an elevated train nearby. He starts to walk towards Van Buren Street.

Moments later, Michael makes it to a parking garage. He looks up at the tracks above him. He sighs deeply as he walks inside the parking garage. He presses the elevator button. He presses again... and again. He finally notices a sign which reads "Out of order."

Michael is agitated, and he walks towards the stairs. As he's about to walk up the starts, he starts vomiting. He vomits, and he spits out the remaining chunks of vomit onto the floor before wiping his mouth with his sleeve. He looks up the stairs, and his vision starts to get blurry. Not deterred by his current condition, he decides to start pulling himself up the stairs using the railing.

Moments later, Michael finally reaches the top of the building, and he staggers to the ledge. He looks down onto the elevated tracks below. He slowly takes his flask out of his coat pocket, and as he tries to open the flask, he fumbles it. He watches as the flask falls onto the sidewalk 11 stories below.

Michael- (angry) Fuuuuuck!!

Michael, now angry, looks towards the sky. He is fuming.

Michael- (shouting) God, why are you allowing this to happen to me?!! What the fuck have I done?!! What?!!

Silence fills the air.

Michael- (shouting) My woman, my job, my house... gone! (louder) Gone!! I have no one, and I have nothing!! Is this what you wanted?!!

More silence. Michael continues to wait for God to answer.

Michael- (softly) Kill me. Just fucking kill me. I don't want to live anymore. I'm done.

Michael climbs onto the ledge. He stares down onto the tracks below. He takes a deep breath.

Michael- God, just do me one more favor. Tell Jamie I'm sorry.

Michael lifts his head up. He closes his eyes. He takes one final deep breath, and he spreads his arms wide.

Michael- Goodbye.

[Cell phone rings]

Michael- (startled) What the fuck?!!

Michael falls off the ledge... and onto the pavement!

Moments later, Michael's cell phone continues ringing. His eyes open, and he notices his phone lying right by his face. Michael has fallen backwards onto the pavement just a few feet off the ledge. That phone call saved his life.

The phone continues ringing. Michael slowly reaches for it, and he answers it.

Michael- (weakened) Hello? Jamie?

To Be Continued...