In the dimly lit car wash, the fluorescent glow cast eerie shadows on the worn concrete floor. The smell of soap and chlorine hung heavily in the air, and the sound of rushing water echoed off the walls.
The skinny, middle-aged man lay on a tattered cot, his unkempt hair sharp against the dim light. His body was racked with spasms as he tossed and turned in his sleep.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open wide with panic as he shot up, gasping for air.
"Bro, you good?" his coworkers, who were washing the tires of a nearby vehicle, said while chuckling at his state.
Beads of sweat glistened on his brow as he scrambled to gather his meager belongings from a rusty locker. The metal echoed with each harsh clank.
His movements were frenzied, paying no attention to the mocking gazes he received. There was only a sense of urgency in every step he took.
Just as he was about to make a hasty exit, his boss, a burly figure with an air of authority, stepped into his path. The boss, who looked like he was in his early 40s and had a huge pot belly hidden under his white shirt, spoke sternly.
"Where the hell do you think you're going? Your shift doesn't end until 4:00 p.m. And who the f*** do you think you are, sleeping at this time when your shift isn't even over?"
"It's coming."
"Huh? What the f*** are you saying?"
"I said it's coming!" the man repeated urgently, his rough hand shooting out to grip the boss's collar in a vice-like grip.
"The eclipse, it's coming," he muttered, his eyes wild with fear, before releasing his boss and rushing past. His footsteps tapped an urgent staccato on the concrete, leaving the boss and the other workers staring after him with a mixture of bewilderment and amusement etched on their faces.
As the door slammed shut behind him, the lingering scent of car wash soap was the only evidence that he had been there at all.