This man is on his way home from work. He's been on this bus for awhile but that's changing soon. His stop is coming up next. He pulls the cord and signals for the stop.
He places his third to last cigarette in his mouth as he stands up from his seat. The cigarette, fully extended from his mouth clung to his bottom lip faithfully as he arose. He gets off at the back of the bus..
One step, one splash, and his shoes are wet and dirty now. He's just stepped in dirty slush like snow.
He takes a second step onto the curb. Without thinking, he quickly pulls out his lighter and flicks it twice. All in one motion he lights his cigarette.
He takes one puff, then a second, and even a third. Upon exhalation, he looks in both directions and smiles.
He's spotted his good friend; Tony. He greets Tony with a handshake.
"Hey Tony!"
Tony responds.
"Hey wassup Bobby!?"
Bobby and Tony speak to each other for awhile in front of the corner store just a few feet away from the bus stop.
Bobby finishes his cigarette.
Bobby flicks the cigarette as both he and Tony head into the store. He continues to speak to Tony as he grabs a bottle of orange juice. He puts the juice and a bag of chips on the counter. Tony places a six pack of his favorite beer on the counter.
The clerk asks if that's all they need.
Bobby responds.
"Naw, lemme get a pack of Camels."
Clerk responds.
"All out man. I still got Newports though!"
Bobby responds.
"Agh shit nevermind.. Just this."
The clerk rings up Bobby and Tony's total. Tony pays for their items and they leave the store. Tony looks at the bottle of juice and speaks.
"You got the big one, you sick or som?"
Bobby looks out into the street and grabs his box of cigarettes as he responds.
"Nah, it's Joanne. She's got that damn bug that's been floating around."
Tony nods. Bobby takes out his second to last cigarette and proceeds to light it. He takes a puff and wipes his mouth. He and Tony both walk around the corner towards their homes.
The two friends split up and go in the opposite direction. They wave goodbye to each other and continue on.
Bobby goes home. He kicks the dirty snow off his boots as he enters.. Joanne hears him come in and shouts.
"Don't bring that snow in here Bobby!"
Bobby responds.
"I'm not dammit!"
Bobby ashes his cigarette then walks into the house. He strolls through the dining room and notices that the answering machine has two messages. He fixes his mouth to speak but before he can Joanne shouts again.
"Your son left you a message! The second one is just another bill collector.."
Bobby nods then plays the message. He listens then stops it before it could continue. He notices a letter on the table.
It's to Bobby from Janice. He grabs the letter and heads into the kitchen.
Bobby pours Joanne a glass of orange juice and brings it to her in bed.
"Here."
She smiles as she responds.
"Thank you baby. What did that boy want?"
Bobby kisses Joanne on her forehead then responds.
"Nothing, honey. I'm gonna be in my chair reading this letter if you need me ya hear?"
Joanne takes a sip and lays back down. Bobby relights his cigarette and sets the letter on the arm of the chair. He clutches it as he opens the window near the front door.
He sits down and finishes smoking.
He places the end of the cigarette in his ashtray.
He opens the letter and begins to read:
"Hii dad! It's your little girl, Janice! I miss you and Mom. She said that you're still smoking those cancer sticks. I wish you'd stop... They'll be the death of you.. anyways I'm doing well with my studies. I'm actually starting a new job soon. It's an internship at the same company that inspired me to become a coder. I'm very excited about it. I'll be back home in a couple of weeks to see everyone. How's BJ? Have either of you heard from him? If you do speak, tell him that I miss him too. And tell Mom that miss her too! I love all of you. I'll see you soon.. P.S. I know that you probably have a cigarette in your hand now... Throw it away! Love you!XOXOXO"
Bobby cringed as he read the last line, looking at his right hand, which was holding his last cigarette. He took a deep breath and whispered to himself;
"This is the last one J.. I promise."
Bobby lit the cigarette and inhaled the smoke. He enjoyed it thoroughly. A few minutes went by as he smoked and looked out the window.
He sat for a few moments pondering what he has just read.
"I know that you probably have a cigarette in your hand now... Throw it away!" Janice's words echoed within his mind.
Halfway through the cigarette and Bobby starts to cough uncontrollably. Joanne fell asleep awhile back so she doesn't hear him. Bobby falls to the floor, gripping his chest in pain.
Bobby passes out holding his chest. He tries to beat the floor with his fist in an attempt to alert Joanne but to no avail.
Joanne wakes up an hour later and finds Bobby lying on the floor motionless. She starts crying immediately.
Joanne falls to the floor, then hugs and shakes Bobby's still body. She punches him a few times as she cries out his name once more.
"Bobbyyy!!"
The force from Joanne's hits cause Bobby's body to move a bit.
Bobby's right hand which was balled up, had opened from the force of Joanne's punches.
As Bobby's fist slowly opens, his last cigarette falls out of it.
