"Cack-cack!" I cough into my weakly clenched fist. "Debra..."605Please respect copyright.PENANAncfXsVEhEz
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.605Please respect copyright.PENANAMVOVLsE03o
"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."605Please respect copyright.PENANA0teqlWbMER
Deb's expression goes flat. "Blondie, I'm going to leave..." she warns.605Please respect copyright.PENANAxfdfEQb4Jr
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."605Please respect copyright.PENANApUTqvOfRbn
"I get it, G-Mammy."605Please respect copyright.PENANAeW5OPfztax
"THE ONLY ONE, DEBRA."605Please respect copyright.PENANAJcJ1VSDgwI
"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..."605Please respect copyright.PENANAW94FXTjBUY
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.605Please respect copyright.PENANAdMIVguxBnR
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!"605Please respect copyright.PENANAHHXtXjvuq5
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.605Please respect copyright.PENANAmRKdV61E9p
"Say it, say it!" I order as relations badger her over what my parting words had been.605Please respect copyright.PENANA31wGa2olgl
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.605Please respect copyright.PENANA5b7o2AkYxS
Debra lets out a breath, saying, "Send Nudes."605Please respect copyright.PENANAoURlM3gTiY