Chop. Chop. Chop.

Thomas chopped up the last of the meat that needed to be processed, hitting the pork bones hard with his cleaver. From the day he was born, he was a nobody. A nothing. He shouldn't have even been born, otherwise why would God punish him with such a face? All he could do was chop. Chop. Chop. But even that was being taken away from him...

The Lee Bros meatpacking plant was closing down. Almost all the employees in the building were gone, everyone had left this hole in search of a life. He couldn't leave. Where would they hire him with such a face and no education, always silent, sullen? It was a failure, the last thing he had slipping through his fingers. And Thomas was getting angrier and angrier, taking out his anger on the pork, not paying attention to anyone else. What will he tell his mama? Charlie? He has nothing left but his home.

The worst part is that you are leaving town too. His co-worker, his only friend, so to speak. You were the only one who didn't look at him like he was a gorilla without a cage, you were the only one who smiled at him, who helped him and talked. Yes, it didn't happen that often, but Thomas simply appreciated that you talked to him without mockery, without lies, without fear and disgust in your eyes. How could he let you go?..

Tommy squeezed the cleaver in his hand tighter, chopping another bone. He was already making a plan in his head to make you stay here, in this city, with him, he even imagined how he would bring you home, showing you to his dear mama. If he cleaned up his basement, it would be cozy for both of you...when suddenly he felt a light touch on his shoulder. Raising the cleaver above his head, he turned sharply and froze, seeing you. Your boss, the most vile bastard, sent you to ask Tommy to leave, thereby shifting responsibility.

Thomas exhaled, lowering his hand and silently waited for you to speak.