"Cack-cack!" I cough into my weakly clenched fist. "Debra..."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2o0lN5IIm
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.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ceDqO8EvK
"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."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuZKrmACc1
Deb's expression goes flat. "Blondie, I'm going to leave..." she warns.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0krXGSUCpy
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."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3cMK0ndCP
"I get it, G-Mammy."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEQ2ib1NLy
"THE ONLY ONE, DEBRA."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6Xn3QIZfC
"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..."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mW5vGWri5
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.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFcKuOlO6O
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!"604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk34ZLh7Gq5
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.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5SITWJ8x9
"Say it, say it!" I order as relations badger her over what my parting words had been.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijkXH0x8gQ
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.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3OPnYT6RJ
Debra lets out a breath, saying, "Send Nudes."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChxl0LU64T
and then Add to home screen.