Short story- Mu

I was being mugged. Two boys were threatening me with deadly force, one behind me and one standing front and center. I had nowhere to run. I used to say today’s youth couldn’t be as bad as television says they are. Maybe I was wrong. Either way boys shouldn’t harass an old man like this.

“Shut up! Just give us the money,” said one of the boys when he heard this. He pressed the gun against my back harder. I put my hands in the air. I surrendered. “I don’t have any money.” The boy scowled. This looked grim. I tried to talk my way out of this. Pretending to be a confused senior citizen can get you out of all types of trouble.

I felt the gun butt collide with the back of my head. I fell to the ground. They weren’t buying it. No one respects their elders these days. Then it happened. Was it an accident? Were theses boys just that evil? I don’t know I never saw them again. I just know what I heard and felt.

I heard the gun go off. BANG! I felt the bullet tear through my chest. It tumbled upon entering. That made it hurt more. It still didn’t hurt as bad as I expected. Bullets are hot. It was the worse burning sensation I have ever felt. Still it could have been worse. Blood poured out of the wound. It’s funny how you never think about all the blood moving around under your skin till it ends up on the outside. All the oxygen and nutrients my organs needed were being spilled on the ground. Such a waste.

I was dying. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t have a choice. I did start think positive no more hearing aids, cataracts, or boys disrespecting their elders. Those were the promises of growing old. Death has no such promises. Death is life’s wild card no promises, no expectations, and no warning. Maybe death would be a paradise.

I could not be any more wrong.

I was dead. The official cause was blood loss. It was dark. I was scared. I screamed. There was no echo. No expectations. I waited for something to happen. Nothing happened. I could not see. I could not hear. This was death Mu, the void. No promises. I screamed. There was no echo, nothing. Years flew by this way. I was bored .I screamed. No warning.