Thousands of cockroaches floated out of the apartment door as the fire crews worked to put out the source of the smoke. The smell was too horrific to describe in detail. It just smelled of death. I had finally recognized the odor of spoiled meat. Making my way through the gawkers, I peered through the doorway. I could see some of the firefighters kicking things around. A few papers and more cockroaches floated outward to the street. The fire crews apparently put whatever was smoking, out.
After a few tense moments, the firefighters walked out one by one with a sullen look on their faces. One of the fire crew quietly spoke with the police officers on site, at which point the officer was visibly disgusted. After the raw sewage cleared the doorway, the police officers then slogged their way past wet clumps of debris and filth. I saw that they were walking into what appeared to be an indoor garbage dump.
Bernie had lived for years, unbeknownst to anyone, in a pile of filth. He had given up any interest in housekeeping and just let the crap pile up, literally. I remember seeing stories on the news about people who live in slum-like conditions, sleep in cat feces and dirty diapers. The thought that something like that was in our community almost made me gag.
But what about Bernie? Jesus. How long was he in there? Is he dead, eaten alive by cockroaches? Just thinking about that turned my stomach. I could imagine his rotting corpse clutching an old photo of him and his wife as cockroaches ate his blackened flesh.
So. Time for breakfast. My stomach was killing me, I needed some food, but this lovely experience was making me a little ill. I went down to the corner store to pick up some mini-donuts and a thing of orange juice to take with me.
As I looked back at the firetrucks, cop cars, and the ambulance, I thought out loud, “What a lousy way to go." Billions of years of evolution...generation after generation...struggling to survive...to be the only species on our corner of the boundless cosmos to experience life, the lives of others, and love...and to tragically lose love and just gave up on life and the people around you...to just rot away to oblivion. "What a waste. You poor bastard.”
“Tell me about it.”, said Bernie as he closed the refrigerator door, bottled water in hand. I just stood there, amazed. He was dressed in his best suit, left hand buried deep the pocket of his newly pressed slacks. The curious side of me wanted to ask him about the filth, the smell, the smoke and the cockroaches, but I got the impression something was happening that I probably didn't want to have any part of. I just watched. He paid for the water and took a moment to stand at the steps of the quickie-mart. He took a swig as he looked across the street at what was happening. He seemed to have a casual air about him. After a few brief moments, he swiftly ducked into an expensive new car that was parked out back and drove off as if nothing had ever happened. I thought I saw someone sitting in the passenger seat through the darkened windows...
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