"Cack-cack!" I cough into my weakly clenched fist. "Debra..."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6OaOoHgKo
My grand-daughter leans in. "G-Mammy?" The name I required her to call me after I put out my greatest rap singles album. The album didn't clear the bottom of the chart, dead on arrival like a spawn kill in Overwatch... but she still humors me with my rapper alias, which almost makes me feel guilty for what I'm about to ask her.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEiZdehUcD
"Why the hell did your mom name you Debra Lane?" I whisper. Before Deb can pull back, I insist, "Debra Lane Garter is a 1860s saloon-lounge-prostitute's name."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qMe90IMRX
Deb's expression goes flat. "Blondie, I'm going to leave..." she warns.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNJOnX5gkG
I rasp a laugh and smack her shoulder. "I'm jus' messin' with ya! Here... You're the only one I trust with this. The only one," I impress upon her. "The Only One."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mctkb6Zgr
"I get it, G-Mammy."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPqAQMSXoL
"THE ONLY ONE, DEBRA."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomVuIB2puF
"Okay, okay! Jeez..." she takes the envelope from me, but I stay her hand from opening it. Her blue eyes hold only questions, serious questions and remorse for never having taken me seriously in the past. "Grandma, I'm..."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n6T8GsbmJ
I put a finger to her lips. "Shhhhhhhhhhhhh--sh. Be quiet, Darling. Read it after I'm gone." I put a hand to my sweaty forehead for dramatic effect. "Just... Just..." I cough again, but this one's on the real-real and I see blood on the back of my hand, bright red and unfair, but certain as the sunrise. "I love you... I love..." and my voice seems to fold in on itself as I can no longer find the air to force the words out.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIXqxLjyxv
I float out of my body as Debra is reduced to tears; genuine tears of sadness and grief. "Good," I say in my ghostly apparitious form, rubbing my translucent hands together gleefully. "Let the bitter sweetness flow through you!" I let out a delighted cackle as my granddaughter goes for the letter in her hands. "BEHOLD!" I bellow, yet unheard, "MY LAST WORDS!"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGgK5j47hN
Debra's eyes squeeze together into a seething glare and she barks a curse, scoffing, "For Chrissake G-Mammy!" She flings the note onto my death bed, stands up and stalks out the room to the vigil waiting for her outside. I float through the door to follow her.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQIqzWyrjf
"Say it, say it!" I order as relations badger her over what my parting words had been.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsUuwKBBmO
Debra's face is red with scorn, chagrin, and just a little bit of satisfaction as the room quiets around her. She holds my entire family in anticipation--My youngest successor, my beautiful princess, my venerable clone. Debra smirks a little as she intones, "Grandma Blondie's last words were..." She wipes a tear from her face. She's really raking it in. She's my granddaughter after all. I will never be prouder.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ol1rdxymE
Debra lets out a breath, saying, "Send Nudes."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEdGAM7nHa
