Reunion
“I’m sorry,” I cried. “God, I’m so sorry…”
I opened my eyes and saw the pale gray dawn lighting across the parking lot, reflecting against the windows of my Mustang and heard the choking, gasping sounds coming from the thing in my arms. Its skin blue, eyes wide, lidless, blind, glass orbs of black. Its mouth opened and closed and the sound that came from deep within the veined throat was wet and raw. Lips pulled back over toothless gums. I tried to cover the tortured sounds with my hand while trying to keep the blue skin from slipping apart.
It took only a few moments before she was gone. So was Kenny’s body. A stain on the paved lot marked the place.
The door to the car opened.
“You gonna stand there all day, guy?” The driver asked. “We got to get going.”
“I tried to keep her,” I answered him. “When am I going to get to keep her with me?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, man. I’m just the driver.”
I got into the passenger seat.
The driver showed me a papery colorless face. His black eyes, expressionless, anchored into the veined skin stretched taut, regarded me. “Hey, at least you won your little race again. That’s something isn’t it?”
I didn’t say anything.
“You should see some of the things folks want to re-live. Most go for the obvious; the best lay they ever had, a great hunt, a wedding ceremony, things like that. And there’re others who don’t really have anything. At least you got something you can feel good about. You won your race.” He started the car. “Better than nothing.”
“I didn’t win anything,” I grunted at him. “I lost.”
I pulled my door shut and turned the mirror so I wouldn’t have to look at my own face rotting; eyes drying up, skin flaking into dust. The bones of my knuckles were already showing and I could feel the ligaments and tendons slipping loose.
I leaned back to rest.
I earned it, I guess.
While still able to control my tongue I spoke, “Let’s roll. Better luck next time, right?”
My voice sounded like the dead leaves crunching beneath the tires. My suit started to wrinkle and my tie flipped in the blue breeze. The driver said something again but I wasn’t listening anymore.