Brick by Brick by Brian Hesse (read after TXT) 📕

a week, depending on constitution. However, water…Ahhhh, water is another matter entirely. With just a little oxygen to partially fill his lungs and a racing heart, I estimate he will live another two days before succumbing to death. An eternity hanging by a ring in a sealed dark space.

 

“Please Teddy old boy. I am sorry for betraying you with Susan. She meant nothing compared to our friendship.”

 

This pleading continued as I expected for an hour. It took me this long to complete just the first three tiers of brick. Then came the anger. Equally expected.

 

“I’m going to kill you when I get out of here.”

 

With this threat I could only laugh. Its funny that the stages of fear are very similar to those of grief. Next came bargaining.

 

“Teddy, I promise if you let me go I will give you anything. I will not hold this against you. If you want to blame someone, blame her. I’m just a man.”

 

He still didn’t get it. I cared nothing about the affair. The nerve of him not to know my true motivation for this dramatic act. I continued throughout the day, quickening my pace as the hours slipped by. Just one final brick to place. It is time to reveal my reasons for taking his miserable life.

 

“Billy. You are a fool if you think I care anything about an affair with my ugly wife. If anything, you should be pitied for your obvious desperation. No, my old friend, you broke my trophy and cared nothing about making amends.

 

The look on his face was priceless as I gazed into the two and a half by seven-and-a-half-inch peephole. It was so dark, but his face was pressed up against the hole. I could see the shock on his downturned cracked lips as I mentioned my trophy.

 

Just as I was placing the last brick that would seal his fate and begin two days of excruciating sorrow, I heard these words.

 

“Teddy, I broke the trophy but glued it back together. Susan grabbed it from my hands and smashed it against the floor.”

 

“Damn! Looks like I will need more bricks after all.”

 

End

Imprint

Text: Brian Hesse
Publication Date: 01-08-2019

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