The Man in Black

For the past several days everything tasted better, smelled stronger, felt softer and warmer than he could remember in all his time, because unconsciously he knew he was growing near the end. His last job was done. He was finished. The peace and calm he had longed for over so many countless years had snuck up on him like a tomcat slinking down a dark alley, creeping up on him one stealthy footstep at a time. And there he sat; knowing that he now had the rest of his life to enjoy his life. He suddenly felt more alive than he knew was possible. He sat there staring into the cup of coffee, trying to grasp what it was he was feeling. It came to him as much as an epiphany as it was a shock.

"It's hope." He whispered to himself. "And... freedom."

He wiped a tear from under one eye then flagged down his server for another cup of coffee.

"That's pretty good coffee, huh?" The young freckled waitress asked with a smile.

"Best damned coffee I've ever had in my life." He replied with a genuine smile.

The End

*

*To the Reader -- this is the end. Maybe not for good, though, there might be other dark figures lurking in the shadows that have stories to tell, but for all practical purposes the Man in Black is done. There may be different and possibly even bigger things to come in the future, but the Man in Black has paid his dues and he's enjoying some much deserved peace and quiet. To drag it out would be to undermine the true nature of the character. Thank you for reading.