The Last Mile

A man desperately seeks to validate his life. He finds the perfect vice and meets the perfect girl. He then meets a mysterious stranger who offers dark and cryptic advice.

Charles Pierce hasn't been good at anything in his life. As he journeys toward middle age, he has felt like the captain of a rudderless ship. He desperately seeks to fit in, belong, and finally be good at something. He finds just the thing to pour his heart and soul into and prove to society that he is somebody. Dedicating every ounce of his being to marathon running,

Charles finds himself in the middle of an intense training regimen when he meets Emily. Emily gives him the support and encouragement he needs, and the two become close. As their relationship turns romantic, they decide to embark on the journey together. But when setbacks creep in, an obsessed and angry side of Charles reveals itself leaving Emily to question everything about their relationship. As things spiral in a negative direction, Charles meets a strange bartender named Levi. From behind the counter, Levi offers up his own unique outlook on life and the world around him. He knows just what Charles needs to achieve his goals. Desperately seeking approval and understanding, Charles is willing to win at all costs, but a difficult truth awaits him.

If you like your stories weaving in and out of the Twilight Zone with a bit of horror mixed in, then this novella is for you. See what happens when the race reaches The Last Mile.