Hearken the Trees

I couldn’t sleep that night. 

The wind was blowing with an eerie “Woooo” sound. Even the house cat seemed unnerved by the trees whipping the apartment building like a masochistic penitent.

All night long “Woooooo,” “Smack!” “Whack!” I tossed and turned. A frightened cat sat on my face. “Fer chrissakes enough already, Cat! ” I groused.

I was already on edge about the Old Man’s Heart condition. His abrupt confession over the phone came out of nowhere sending me into a panic.

“Whaddya means you had a “little” heart attack last month. Why didn’t you tell me, Dad?!

“Ah, Charlie…it’s COUGH…COUGH…No big deal. The Doctor says I’m doing better…and I ain’t afraid of dyin’ anyway.”

“You may not be afraid…but I am. Jesus, Dad!” I said hanging up the phone.

Ironically, the next day I was in the school cadaver lab working on a class assignment. 

The overpowering smell of formaldehyde caused my eyes to weep copious tears despite the gas mask I was forced to wear while working.

I had just removed the heart from the body I had been assigned to dissect.

When a School secretary walked into the lab looking for me. 

The look on her crumpled face confirmed my worst fears.

I dropped my scalpel stricken. The world shifted under my feet and I felt the Universe realign itself. Closing the gap of a presence now forever gone.

And as if sleeping, the body on my table continued to dream dreams of loss, regret and darkness.