"Cack-cack!" I cough into my weakly clenched fist. "Debra..."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrKdzTfzRR
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM1DLkrLkD
"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."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnZ6mQe0fo
Deb's expression goes flat. "Blondie, I'm going to leave..." she warns.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztjIaxntA5
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."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6gJmMa3xG
"I get it, G-Mammy."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39ftRaMdrO
"THE ONLY ONE, DEBRA."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYqtO1sDYa
"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..."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpnFhbbOPy
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY8rfe2ER8
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!"685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGxN0kv6uu
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbZrni9hsO
"Say it, say it!" I order as relations badger her over what my parting words had been.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMrXZ6ul4x
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoEE619QnU
Debra lets out a breath, saying, "Send Nudes."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaucNDgQcCR
