Jack woke up to the sound of a ringing cell phone. It was Carey's, but he'd been in the shower for the past five minutes. Jack lifted up his head, the corner of a magazine sticking to his face, and reached for the phone. It was Fi.
She asked him where Carey was and if they were having fun. Jack said the vice on his head was saying that they had a little too much fun. Fi laughed at him and told him to be careful and that she loved him.
Jack hung up the phone and slowly stood up. He kept his neck arched and furrowed his eyebrows. Bad way to start off the day. He stumbled into the kitchen where Michael was and braced himself on the counter.
"First hangover huh?" Michael asked to which Jack nodded, "No fun is it. Well, here, this should take the edge off. Nasty tomato juice and a bit of liquor, but it helps,"
"Ah man, it stinks," Jack said, "I can't,"
"Just man up and throw it back,"
Jack did and mad the worst face imaginable. Care came in and was still pulling on his shirt on to where it felt right. He laughed at him.
"Hair of the dog, huh?" Carey said.
"Now I remember why I didn't drink before," Jack said. Michael smiled and he took a swig of the liquor.
"Little early isn't it?" Carey asked. Michael shook his head and poured a bowl of cereal.
"Just a little hit in the morning to get past it," he answered, "You need to get some food on your stomach and possibly a hot shower, Jack,"
"Shower first. Food later," Jack said as he held on to his stomach and went into the bathroom.
He let the warm water pour over his face and down his back. He'd woken up with a strange feeling passing through him. With his blue eyes closed and the pain in his head passing, he began to remember.
His dream had him surrounded by fire. He couldn't get away from it, yet it was not hot and he did not burn. Tiny droplets of what he though were water pattered on his head. This was soothing to him and he sat down. But the fire kept coming in closer and he cried out. Suddenly, the fire parted and his mother stepped through. She reached out and opened her hand. A white moth flew from it.
"Feed it with fire and essence of life," she said.