He sat for hours in the dark alcove. The old hotel, St. Charles. Rocking. Lisa kept him company. Beside. No talking. One day Chuck said, “Boy, it’s taking this guy a long time to die.” She asked him what he meant and he said he didn’t know. Day after day, patiently. As usual, Lisa said “I’m going for a walk now, you can come along if you like.” The sun shone brightly on her upturned face, she stood waiting. As usual. Trees sparked in the fresh air. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. She heard someone behind her. She knew he was there, Chuck. Following. The walks became a daily occurrence. He started initiating the walks and worried talk. He told Lisa he was gay. He had no sexual experience with girls and had an active imagination. One day Lisa took Chuck to bed with her. Chuck was passionate and not worried. He became attached to Lisa as she expected. Lisa introduced him to her friends as he needed a family other than the old drunk called dad. She watched Chuck branch out like a leafing tree. One day Lisa came home to find Chuck had left the night before. Lisa waited. Two years later he came to visit her, the St. Charles. He brought his wide-eyed wife, their round head baby. He married the second good girl he met and fell in love with. Lisa. A nice wife and new baby. Chuck got it right.
Neila Mezynski has fiction and poetry published on Rumble, Snow Monkey, Word Riot, Mud Luscious, The Scrambler, Elimae, Northville Review, Kill Author, and Dogzplot, among several other journals and reviews.