Flash Fiction: 4
The cold air on this morning makes it so that his breathy exhales look deceivingly like the smoke that is coming out of his father’s cigarette. He hates to see his dad smoking. Still, he knows he can’t tell his dad what to do.
This moment, knowing his dad is dying and watching him inhale toxins, hurts him. Conversely it makes him feel good that his father is allowing himself this last little pleasure.
Lots of people have been coming to visit with stories like, “This is your father’s cousin’s daughter’s husband’s child and children.” Everyone brings food and sincere concern. He just sits and watches everyone.
The old man finishes his cigarette while he and his son sit outside listening to the chatter in the house behind them. Neither of them know that this will be his last smoke. This will be the last time they connect eyes and nod as they stand up and walk back inside.
In his room later the old man lays still. He takes only a few breathes and accepts his night fall. His eldest daughter is the first to come in. She covers his face before any kids walk in. Everyone knew he was dying but you hold in the tears in until the levy breaks and floods. Everyone cries.
Many prayers ascend and tears wash over souls. Some people will hurt forever. Bur for some, time washes it all away. The sun shines differently on that occasion.
Ever since the old man came to this country this part of town has been his home. Seven people spent decades on this tiny plot of land. The house and contents in it have already been divided. It isn’t much.
This home, in a universe filled with clusters of gasses, solids spiraling into infinity, on a planet so small a tiny rock from space could alter it forever, in a continent that stretches the globe vertically, in the southern part of a golden coast of a country crunched between two others, in an urban sub-region of the east side unincorporated section of Los Angeles, on a squiggly shaped hillside, on a street where the sidewalks were just introduced ten years ago, -this is where the remaining family still reside and remember him.