The End of a Long Shift

The day had dragged on at work. Scraping away at the menial closing chores, each job done felt like peeling away at scabs. Relief at the final pull, but lasting scars that show none of the effort was really worth it in the end. The thin cigarette quivered between my lips as I took another shaky pull. My eyes watered as the smoke floated up, kissing my eyelashes on their way. I held up my phone to my ear as the other end finally picked up.
The flames in the small cafe fanned out in a cascade.
"Hey. I quit."