Tired; Malcolm could understand tired. The notions crept into his bones and his lungs every day – but he soldiered on as best he could. But he was cracking and fraying from within, and eventually something would succumb: his strength, his lungs, everything all at once.
But not now, not when there was teaching to be had. He sat a little taller, a little straighter, as much as his body could manage, beginning to think on all those he loved and cared for. “There’s Ma and Pa…” closing his eyes, he imagined them all with loads of berries, bread from market stalls, even delicious desserts catered from some other talented people. “And Jesse, and Cliff, and Myra, and Lily,” he droned on and on, pausing intermittently to catch a breath, release a cough –
When suddenly he couldn’t anymore.
Then he was quiet. No more spasms. No more shudders, save for a final one, as the last breath and heartbeat left his body.
And then there was peace instead, a soul gone to Mort, no longer in utter agony.
{FIN}
But not now, not when there was teaching to be had. He sat a little taller, a little straighter, as much as his body could manage, beginning to think on all those he loved and cared for. “There’s Ma and Pa…” closing his eyes, he imagined them all with loads of berries, bread from market stalls, even delicious desserts catered from some other talented people. “And Jesse, and Cliff, and Myra, and Lily,” he droned on and on, pausing intermittently to catch a breath, release a cough –
When suddenly he couldn’t anymore.
Then he was quiet. No more spasms. No more shudders, save for a final one, as the last breath and heartbeat left his body.
And then there was peace instead, a soul gone to Mort, no longer in utter agony.
{FIN}
