coins. Possibly to make themselves feel better but still convinced they were hopefully helping somebody. Beside him sat an empty grease stained McDonald’s bag, a half empty coke with the “diet” button pressed down on the plastic lid. And of course the standard worn polystyrene cup used for collecting coins. Always only about 30% full so as to not give the impression that he was doing too well.

A book, “Gates of Fire” lay beside him and Steve examines him from a few feet away.

In more simple times, like in his book, maybe Chuck would have fit in better. Was he reading it in an attempt to escape all of reality or just this one? Not a bad choice given his situation but I can’t help thinking that avoiding reality was what got him here in the first place.