Chapter 1 - A Fine Day to Die
Six o’clock had come and gone, but Benton York was still at his desk, just about ready to pack it in for the day.
Edward, the executive vice-president of sales slipped in the open door. “Is there anyone in your section still here? I’ve got a presentation in the morning, and it needs some touchups.”
“Just me, Mr. Abbott,” Benton said. “But I can get it done for you.”
The PowerPoint emergency took close to another hour, but he didn’t mind too much. He liked helping people. Besides, it wasn’t like he had anyone waiting for him at home.
At sixty years old, Benton knew that death approached faster than he would like, but he never expected it to come so soon. Then again, not many people did once their number was up.
Nothing in the spring weather portended disaster. A gentle wind blew from the south. Wispy white clouds drifted lazily across the sky. It was a fine day. A fine, fine day.
Though it was well after the rush hour, many people still dashed hither and yon finishing up their business in the downtown metroscape, preparing to escape the daily grind. One such young lady grinned as her fingers rapidly tapped her phone, surely making plans for the evening. A young man hastily stepped into an Uber, eager to be about his life.
Benton sighed. He was much more conflicted. Though he definitely looked forward to kicking off his shoes and ditching his tie, maybe relaxing to the latest chapter in his grandson’s webnovel, he no longer had anyone to look forward to seeing. Even five years after Evelyn’s passing, he still wasn’t quite over it. Maybe he never would be.
It was the little things that really got him. How quiet the house always was. Reaching his arm across the bed upon waking and finding her spot empty. Having someone to share a meal with. Heck, even figuring out what to eat.
He grimaced. Probably fast food again.