His father’s skin is ashen, framed by the blue robe. He holds an Xbox controller. On the large screen are two attack helicopters. A second controller sits next to the obese man on the couch.
“What are you doing here?”
“Here. Play this game with me.”
“How can you just sit there and play a game?”
“Your mother got it for me.”
“I think we should talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Let’s just play.”
“You are back from the dead. But you are sick again. Can’t we talk about this?”
“I don’t understand any of this. I just want to play this game.”
“Are you going to die again? Do you remember what it was like?”
Sigh. Lowers controller.
“I do not know why I am here. I know I died. I remember nothing. I do not know why I am still sick. I do not know what will happen to me. I would like to just play this game with you. Sit down please.”
The Living and the Dead, by Gordon Laws 