Artie Henderson, his girlfriend just left him, and now he's got a stomacheache. What a way to spend the evening, knelt in front of the toilet. But what if it's not just a stomachache? And what if it doesn't want to come out? "Day One" is a short story that starts out as a humorous look at something we're all familiar with, but quickly takes a horrific turn as Artie becomes fatally aware of what has taken residence inside him. Be sure, this is only the beginning.

This story is included in the book, A VERY DARK PLACE: 12 Terrifying Tales.

Bryan Simpson is a novelist, short storyist, poet and playwright. He currently lives in Wisconsin with his wife and three daughters.