Cole began to feel woozy, his head swimming a bit as the ointment soaked in. His headache pulsed, making it impossible to think--but when the pain passed, his mental faculties were severely drained; and thinking was just as difficult. He looked around, then down at the tube he held. His thoughts were going slow as molasses and he tried to recall just why he'd bought this stuff. Seeing the eczema, he decided that must be all it was; and he pocketed the ointment, heading out of the shop.
The streets were long and windy and Cole couldn't remember his way home. He got on a bus and fumbled with slipping some bills into the slot, hoping he'd get to somewhere he'd recognize. As he sat down, he caught the eye of another rider who seemed familiar--but he couldn't place the face, and the young man gave the guy a vacant smile.