Charlie had been an odd child. He was just as quiet and anti-social as he was back then, though it was more-so out of shyness than anything else. He didn't have many friends, so he usually stayed at home, playing with whatever he had at his disposal. Often times, when he wasn't kicking a ball against the metal fence in their backyard, he would play with the bugs he'd find. He even addressed the ants and snails like they were his friend. He'd always whine whenever his father would crush one when he found him playing with it.
He tried not to think about his childhood as a whole, but as he watched ants scurry in and out of their home in the ground, he couldn't help remembering those times. It was slightly embarrassing how little he had changed, still as alone as ever. He wasn't the outgoing type, never was, but even people that were as much of a loner as him had a few close friends.
The male's lips dripped with cigarette smoke as he dropped the butt onto the ground, stamping it out with the toe of his shoe. As he did so, he accidentally disturbed the ants' nest, the small bugs quickly crowding around his foot. But he didn't pay them any mind as he walked away from leaning against the brick wall. He had come to shop, since he was running low on supplies back at home. He had a small house on the outer borders and so he was a while away from any major civilization, nor did he have a farm of his own, unlike many people who lived in the country.
The streets weren't as crowded as usual. Considering the recent break-apart, he wasn't too surprised. He was almost a little relieved, knowing how he was often jostled whenever he came to town, but now it was different. He didn't feel claustrophobic like he usually did.
@Orion "
SPEECH"