• Every day in NY is a drag. People come and go. Even though being a jackass to everyone is every New Yorker’s godforsaken right, it gets old being people every day. Every day I want to take a vacation away from the endless traffic and screams, maybe in the Philippines or the Bahamas. It doesn’t really matter; I just want to get out.
    I am the Chairman of my company we founded. It’s called Tennis with Guitars. We sell custom name brand guitars. It’s not a big company and it doesn’t make much dough but it brings home the bacon. But, my depressing life changed drastically in just a few hours. I left everything behind. Too many regrets, broken dreams and unfinished business.
    This is my story of how I died.
    The day started out normally. It was a Monday, a sure sign it was going to be a horrible day. I had no idea how true that was. My morning started out as usual. Me waking up 15 minutes late and barely catching the subway. I usually don’t eat breakfast. If I have time I usually stop by star bucks and grab a cup of Joe or a bite to eat. When I entered my office, my room was in chaos. 3 employees were screaming bloody murder. I screamed for them to get out. All of them shut up and slowly left with a worried and puzzled expression on their young and inexperienced faces. I sit in my desk and just star at the clutter.
    After a weekend of not answering any emails or phone calls, my desk was filled with notices, bank statements and more. I open my office window and light a cigarette. My stress ridden mind is filled with crazy suggestions ranging from joining the marines to kill them all.
    I smoke the cigarette to the filter and give it a toss in my wastebasket. It misses. Another sign that the day was going to suck. I decide to goof off and play WOW for the rest of the day. LVL 80 Undead Warlock People. I ponder or not to make a Death knight. I decide against it. I smoke way too many cigarettes while playing. I continue playing for about another 5 hours before I decide to go.
    My secretary came in right when I was going to call it a day and go home. I tell her to put everything in my to do box and I storm off.
    Walking home didn’t seem so bad that day. The weather was nice and the sun almost finished setting. The city lights just came on. I light another cigarette and walk through the sights and sounds of my home. New York City.
    The lights seem brighter and the sounds are softer. I decide it isn’t such a bad day after all.
    Only about a mile from my apartment building I reach for another cigarette, but come up empty. I groan in frustration and go toward the nearest liquor store. I go to the counter and there’s the stereotypical Indian clerk there. I ask for two packs of Marlboro Reds. He doesn’t card me.
    This takes a toll on my self-esteem and the fact that I’m getting older comes on to me.
    Out of the corner of my eye I notice something. Two guys dressed in all black were eying me out and talking amongst themselves.
    I immediately get paranoid and start walking faster. I try to get the hell out of there without making it looking like I am.
    I hear their footsteps and I immediately increase my pace. I turn a corner and look over my shoulder. They reach into their jackets. One of them yells at me.
    I break into a run. They do the same.
    I can hear my heartbeat racing and I get breathless and light headed. ********, I suddenly regret all of those cigarettes.
    I try to lose them in an alley and I immediately criticize myself it’s a dead end. I try to go back, but the two guys are already blocking the entrance with knives in their hand. I look around for a catwalk like in the movies or something. I’m left with no options. They slowly approach me and I start to panic.
    “Look we don’t want any trouble, old man, just hand us what you got and we’ll let you go” yells the taller one.
    Anger is a funny thing. If it’s cold you can work it to your advantage. But, when the kid called me an old man I exploded with rage. I blacked out and the next thing I know I’m on top of him punching the stuffing out of him, while the other guy tries to pull me off. He succeeds throws me against a brick wall. Before this I always thought seeing a star was just an expression, this showed me otherwise.
    I got up in a daze and look up. The one I beat downed was pointing at me with a gun. I look at his bloody and pulped face. I smirk. I sure did a number on him.
    “******** you” says the one with a gun while he coughs out blood. There was a bang. I saw the bullet go toward me. I chuckle while million of thoughts of regret fill my head, most of them about my family and wife. They’ll miss me. I could feel tears forming in my eyes.
    But, there I die.
    No respawn, no redos, just death.