Part Two

Indifference.

   It was years coming. Cancer was most decidedly a b***h, Mr. Solomon Katz decided. He was diagnosed fifteen years ago, in 1997. Three days before Christmas that year. Well, he thought, to be expected from a near-lifetime of smoking. He was shocked that his lungs hadn't given out right then and there as he was being diagnosed. 

   The latter part of those fifteen years was spent in and out of hospitals for treatments. Solomon couldn't help but feel a slight tinge of bitterness; after all, the "modern miracles" of medicine didn't seem to help him much. He thought it was unfair.

   "D****t, you brought this on yourself," he said aloud.

   "What was that, dad?" his son, Seth, asked from the bedside.

   "Hurh? Nothing, nothing. Look, can you get me some water? I'm really thirsty kiddo."

   "Sure, dad. Be right back,"

   Seth was the only one left. His wife, Vera, had died two years back. Solomon thought it'd be her burying him, not the other way around. Since Vera's death, his own health had declined sharply. Then a year later, his youngest son, Toby, died in a car accident. That was the final nail in the coffin. He simply lost all of his strength and determination.
But other than that, he believed he lived a good life. He was at peace with it, he thought. He was loving to his wife and sons. He never raised a hand to any of them, not even once. He had taught two boys how to tie shoes, how to ride bicycles....

   He coughed and it hurt him savagely.

   "Cleanex?"

   "Sure -- "

   Solomon paused and opened his eyes. Seth hadn't returned yet, but a hand was offering him a tissue to wipe his face. A skeletal hand.

   "Jesus Christ!" he coughed as he looked at the stranger.

   "Sorry, I know I've come at a bad time, Mr. Katz," said the skeleton man in a nice black suit. His tie was pink. "But, well - "

   Solomon's eyes softened with realization. "This is it, isn't it?" He took the tissue and wiped his lips.

   "'fraid so."

   "No more fighting?"

   "You fought well, Mr. Katz. But it is your time to rest."

   "You aren't what I figured you'd be," Solomon said from the depths of his covers. "No scythe? No robes?"

   "Oh, I gave those up years ago."

   Solomon laughed. "Yeah? What've you got in your arm there?"

   The skeleton man revealed a heart shaped box of chocolates. They were obviously from the gift shop downstairs. "Heard you like chocolate."

   Solomon coughed again. He hacked and hacked. The skeleton man stood off to the side, still and silent.

   "So.... this is it." Solomon repeated. He swung his legs over and stood up.
"Will Seth know? Can you tell him something?"

   "I....... I am afraid I can't do that, Mr. Katz. Interference with mortal lives and the like."

   "D****t. Could I convince you to wait?"

   The skeleton man looked down, pulling back a sleeve. He appeared to look at a sterling silver watch. Then the empty eye sockets returned to meet Solomon's gaze.

   "Sure."

   It took Seth a few more minutes to return. Solomon told him that this was it and that he could feel it coming. They both began to cry and embraced and said farewells - it couldn't help but feel a little awkward with a skeleton dressed in a suit standing off to the side. Solomon wondered why Seth paid the man no mind.  Possibly because, Solomon thought, he isn't dying yet. He turned his eyes to the skeleton and nodded slightly.

   "You're being waited on, Mr. Katz," said the skeleton as he outstretched a hand. "I believe a Mrs. Vera Katz sends her regards."

   "Oh, Vera....." Solomon said softly.

   He felt himself being lifted from the bed, from the world, from his pain and the ravages of cancer. He looked back and there lay his body, with Seth sitting nearby. The skeleton in the nice suit grasped his hand gently.

   "Are you ready, Mr. Katz?"

   "Yeah." Solomon gave his son an invisible smile. "Hey, what kind of chocolate you got?"

Reviews

[Akira Kodama]

Very good. Somewhat chilling, but in a nice way. I always enjoy reading your material.

[Xanthous Crow]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed :)