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He felt like crying. Who could he call? Kevin Costner? Oliver Stone? Gary Oldman? Denzel Washington? He had their numbers but what would he say to them? Wanna play some ball? Go fuck women? Be friends? They had their own problems, didn’t need him. And he didn’t want to be anybody’s problem. Why did it have to be so lonely being an actor? A movie star. Former star. Current failure. The Invisible Man. That’s what he should revive. Wouldn’t have to see him at all.
“Layton? You in here?” Amy walked groggily into the dark room. “You scared me,” she said when she saw his outline. “What are you doing in the dark?”
“Thinking dark thoughts.”
“Where’d you take the kids?”
“What if I didn’t come here tonight?”
“They know where the food is, they can feed themselves.”
“I’m going to have you committed.”
“Swell, I could use a vacation.”
“You just had one.”
“My mother’s no vacation. She makes me very nervous.”
“Don’t turn on the light.”
“I want to see you.”
“I haven’t changed.”
“This gives me the creeps.”
“Go back to bed.”
“I’ve got a headache.”
“I wonder why.”
“Will you massage my neck?”
“No.”
“What do you want, Layton?”
“A life.”
“You’ve got that.”
“Is that what you call this?”
“What about me? What have I got? You were no prize.”
“I don’t care about you. You better start caring about yourself.”
“I make out.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“I’ll survive. You’re the one who’s got to worry.”
Layton sighed. If he could snap his fingers and make her disappear forever he’d do it. Was this the burden he was meant to carry like Sisyphus? Is Amy what existential meant? Could he kill her and put her out of her misery? Oh my Jesus.
“There’s no aspirin in the house,” Amy said.
“Take a vitamin.”
“Could you go get some?”
“It’s two-and-a-half miles down the canyon. I don’t want to go out anymore. I’ve been out.”
“Then I’ll go.”
“Go.”
“Please. My head. My eyes, just behind my eyes. I can’t drive like this.”
“Christ, Amy, I should punch you too.”
“Too? Did you hit the children?”
Layton stood up, glared at her in the dark, and walked out. She asked where he was going and he answered he’d be back.
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