For the last seven years sleep was
nothing more than an escape for James Parker. He loved the moments he
could trade one darkness for another, less painful, lack of light.
Less hatred and broken hearts. Less petty arguments and manipulation.
Seven years ago James Parker was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The
night before was the last night he ever had a dream- or, at least,
remembered a dream. Everyone dreams, James could not help that; but
he could choose to forget them all.
After one year of these dreamless
nights he started to leave the television on while he slept, quietly
intruding his slumber with the breaking news of his country.
This morning, before James Parker's
eyes had opened, his mind awoke to the sound of Lana Diaz's voice.
Lana Diaz was the early morning host of “America's Newsroom”- the
news program James Parker has been waking to for six years.
As his eyelids slowly glided apart and
revealed the faded blue color that lay beneath them, he reached for
his thick glasses on the night table beside his bed. James took the
time to enjoy the warmth of his body and the smell of the stale air
that had been trapped under his thick red covers before he rose.
We have just confirmed
the identity of the body found in the Hudson River. It was indeed the
body of missing New York University student, Taylor Nelson.
Upon
hearing these words, the old man closed his eyes tightly and tried to
hide a frown from the ghosts around his apartment. He slowly lifted
the covers off of his nearly naked body and moved his once athletic
legs over the side of his bed; the cold hardwood floor sent a chill
through his already cooling body.
James
Parker remained motionless on the edge of that bed and began to
wonder where love that once graced humanity was hiding. When he
started to wonder if it ever existed at all, he stood from the bed
with stiff legs and sore hips. It had been only moments since Lana
Diaz woke him:
The estimated casualty
count of the latest embassy bombing: seventeen dead and four wounded.
Investigators are estimating far higher numbers in the days to come.
Within
five minutes, the cold, still, lifeless body of Taylor Nelson had
lost its shock value.
Really enjoyed the 1st Part of Eric's short story, looking forward to Part 2. His willingness to open himself up to the reader and help a good cause is noble!
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