Shred of Evidence

Even as his brother’s HDTV boomed from the basement, Darren Wang felt alone. His own room was modest: a bed, a computer, a shelf full of books. Since high school, he dreamed of breaking in as a crime writer but had more success with poetry. His brother David, meanwhile, made $140 an hour as a computer programmer, which was the reason Darren had a place to live while “honing his craft.”

Darren tried not to think about the class divide between them, but it was all he’d thought about since yesterday, when their cousin called. The Wendy’s in Little Ferry, New Jersey, in which Darren was primary investor, hadn’t made a profit in two years. Their cousin, who convinced Darren to invest in the first place, now recommended his Wendy’s be folded into a larger, more successful corporation, in which David was primary investor.

Through the entire call, Darren was agreeable, saying he knew failure was possible. The particular Wendy’s was a reclamation project from the beginning. If we can turn it around, you stand to make the most money.

He’d always been careful with money. The $400 he made in a good month teaching was an allowance compared to David’s salary. Then, when his job was cut, he became even more careful. Still the Wendy’s seemed like a good investment. Now, though, it didn’t matter that the news came from family. He’d lost his shirt just the same.

Darren felt trapped in his room. He’d never been able to drive, and hated relying on others to get around. On his own he could read, write, surf the web, and breathe—which netted exactly nothing. Few past acquaintances saw him anymore.

His father’s gun hung in its holster on one wall. Inspiration. From childhood he knew how to load, unload, and clean it. A cop’s way of bonding. Though Darren knew what guns could do, they were never a threat to him.

He took the gun down, cleaned it, and loaded it, conscious of every step. Holding it inches from his face, he looked down the barrel. Nothing.

In another life, maybe he’d be able to drive, go on job interviews, travel as he pleased. In another life, he might be a doctor or scientist, someone who made a difference. These were his thoughts as he fingered the trigger, why it was so very easy to pull.