John, Daniel, and Marcus

Daniel and Marcus were leaning against their motorcycles, stopped at a gas station where, as was their tradition, they used to meet before their rides. The light breeze that morning couldn’t dispel the unease that hung between them.

They hadn’t seen John in weeks. Since returning from Africa, he had become more absent, distant even on the phone. Although they had always known their friend was dedicated to his work, his prolonged disappearances had begun to draw attentio