James unlocked the door to his small flat around 2a.m and threw his keys down on the counter before walking over to the fridge. He opened the door and stared into it for a while, nothing but light seemingly staring back at him. Sighing, he grabbed his coat and a £20 note and made his way to a nearby petrol station in Bristol that was open 24/7.

He drove over to the shop, watching a little red light flashing on his dashboard. That didn’t look good. James made a mental note to drive past the mechanics the next day. Or week. He hadn’t gotten his paycheck yet, and money was kind of tight.

He walked into the shop, trying his best to find something cheap and edible. He decided on a kiwi yogurt that was probably expiring the next day, not that he checked or cared very much, a dry bagel, cream cheese, and a packet of crisps. He walked over to the till.

A moody-looking teenager scanned his items before saying, "Your total comes to £11.50. Cash or card?" James fumbled around, trying to dig out the money for his dinner. "Ummm, cash, please," he stuttered, handing over the crumpled note.

The teen looked bored as she punched some numbers into the cash register. It dinged, and she handed him his change and a receipt before opening TikTok on her phone. James waved as he walked out.

He drove home again, opening the door and flopping down on his couch with the yogurt and a spoon. He turned on his crappy old television and scrolled through the channels mindlessly. So mindlessly that he didn’t notice the green liquid in his yogurt, brushing it off and stirring it in. Thinking it tasted a bit funny, but deciding it was just because he’d never had this flavor before and it was probably normal. Maybe it was just hunger?

He got up to bring the cup away, getting a head rush. He felt dizzy, the world turned into a mix of blotchy colorful spots, spinning around him, making him feel sick. He tried to take a step but stumbled instantly. The TV was blaring in the background. Had it been that loud when he turned it on? Then, taking another step, it happened: He tripped and fell, yelping before crashing onto the floor and passing out.

His neighbor, Miss Sherry, a kind old lady, found him a few minutes later. She’d called an ambulance, and he’d been taken to the hospital and had his stomach pumped. They found poison. Quite strong, but it wouldn’t kill you instantly; it would take a while to start working fully. It had been in the yogurt.

He’d been right about the TV, though, because when he’d gotten up, he’d pushed the volume button all the way up by accident. Miss Sherry came over to ask him to turn it down, but found him face-down on the ground. She thought maybe he’d been partying, that’s why he’d left his door unlocked, maybe he was just drunk, but that didn’t seem like him.

She saw the receipt on the counter next to the bagel and the empty cup of yogurt next to James on the ground. He had been lucky that she found him, and suddenly, she was glad about the thin walls of the apartment complex.