"Cack-cack!" I cough into my weakly clenched fist. "Debra..."721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa6rYBYAiP
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.721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IBQs63Ylz
"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."721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsx9NHChvV
Deb's expression goes flat. "Blondie, I'm going to leave..." she warns.721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH4WwmAJD5
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."721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoCuKRwQRG
"I get it, G-Mammy."721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eO2QWLDmN
"THE ONLY ONE, DEBRA."721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C6713zYSJ
"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..."721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCztHpf2Tf
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.721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuY0eu5fdcC
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!"721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm8QCuRYV8
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.721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKuNLM18sb
"Say it, say it!" I order as relations badger her over what my parting words had been.721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT85Bt6bSx
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.721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H2d9QafcC
Debra lets out a breath, saying, "Send Nudes."721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR0PB4FbFC
