fff #40

bare, beer, bier, bear

he never thought a beer at a familiar bar and a drive through a familiar neighbourhood would lead him to his bier. he left the bar that night arm-in-arm with best intentions and his beautiful, cherry blossom scented date. he closed the passenger door gently behind her as she tucked her dress between her thigh and the seat of his new avalon, smiling sweet at him for showing such gentlemanly character. nina simone's i can't see nobody leaked out the cracked windows, dancing with the warm late summer breeze as they drove toward mid-city. a left on canal and a right on bank street found them in front of her camelback home. sweet olive trees filled the air with their wonderful aroma as he walked her to the front door, stopping a step below her terrace so their lips could meet briefly without her straining her neck. a bear hug around his waist and a soft smile followed before he watched her disappear behind heavy oak and listened carefully to the satisfaction of safety behind lock+chain.

his heart still flooded with the warmth of her lips he began plotting their next moment together before he had returned behind the wheel. he drove off, stopping at the corner of north galvez+bank to stare in his rear view fondly at her porch light. suddenly her light disappeared behind an ominous shadow. the shadow split in two and each quickly filled each side view mirror. he hit the gas and sped through the intersection before he heard the first shot; gun fire from the two shadows. a second shot shattered a car window, but he never heard a third. his avalon veered off the road, through a banana tree and into the front room of a newly renovated shotgun home.

by the time the ambulance arrived he was gone.

now, the bullet still lodged in his brain, he lay stripped bare on cold metal. his sharpest grey suit hangs near anxiously awaiting their infinite rest together. his bier will be surrounded by flowers and loved ones. just a closer walk with thee will lead the procession to grave. he'll be buried holding a bible, and covered in cherry blossoms and the tears of one heart-broken woman.