#i'm sorry for posting angst on silverusso day

[amorphousgenderlesscryptid]

Another Thirty Years

Inspired by the allvalley100 prompt of the same name.

***

“Had lunch with Anthony yesterday.” Daniel put the clippers down on the grass for a moment to stretch out his back. Karate had kept him in shape for his age, but even so his bones weren’t what they used to be. “His boss’s made him head of a whole team for a new videogame the company’s making. He tried to explain it to me, something animation layering, but I only got every other word. You’d understand it, you always got Anthony’s work better than I do.”

Daniel leaned back to look at the little bush. He’d gotten all the deadheads, but it needed some shaping still. He picked up the clippers again and started snipping, still chatting away. “Sam said she’d come for dinner next week when she gets back into town. She’s seven months along now, can you believe it? Looks like she’s gonna pop with that big bump and how tiny she is. Miguel’s trying to talk her into not traveling so much till the baby comes, but you know Sam. They’re a pair of workaholics, her and Antonio both. You rubbed off on them that way.”

He brushed away the cut bits of leaf and stem and inspected his handiwork. “Maybe I should talk to her. Life is short, you know? Getting shorter all the time. Doesn’t hurt to slow down a little. Work’s not going anywhere, but we are someday.” He chuckled. “Listen to me, huh? I can hear you telling me not to be so ‘maudlin.’ You and your big words.”

Wincing a little with his aching bones, Daniel sat down to admire his handiwork, stretching his legs out in the grass between the two graves. The late afternoon sun dappled the pink petals of the rose blooms. He’d given Mr. Miyagi a bonsai – Terry got roses. Daniel’s wild Irish rose.

“I’m not in any rush,” he went on, “honest. I want to be around for Sam’s baby for as long as I can, and Anthony’s too if he ever gets around to having one, but – I’m pushing eighty-five. Who am I kidding, right?” He sighed. “And I miss you so damn much.”

Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet. With a small smile, he kissed his fingertips and pressed them to the top of Terry’s white marble headstone. “Happy thirtieth anniversary, babe. See you soon.”