heard the old man coughing in the other room…loud…flem hacked-up…constant noise… always a constant noise…

this cough became a snore…snores turned to snorts…loud farts…delirious conversations with imaginary girlfriends an’ Eagle Scout comrades…looking to tie the knot…

and he blamed all in slumber for his lack of success…failures…mishaps…thin trembling lips…shaky hands…threats with no substance…why take the fall…

this…his fear…realized in a broken-down Lazyboy…,I was never…never…nothing…just nothing…oh well…

heard the old man coughing in the other room…loud…flem hacked-up…a constant noise…
fuck-it…

let ’em die in peace…