text: Everything was still that night. I'd left the cicadas buzzing though because something about that rhythm was relaxing. The first breeze of an October wind was blowing. It glided across the porch and right through my hair, cooling my forehead. The stars of the night sky were in-numerous and twinkling brightly. Barring all the mosquitoes and the humidity, I could see why people loved the south. Laissez, Mississippi and all its nature were putting on a show for the whole world to see and only I could view it. Well me and the man that crept slowly, cautiously down the stairs inside the house. Each step quickened like he was learning how to walk again. I slowly rocked in the man's chair as the steps came closer. Faster and closer. I looked to my left as he was right at the door beside me. I heard him take a deep breath and snort as tears began to roll down his cheeks. The young man with his smooth brown skin slowly opened the door and stepped out. I knew he could hear my chair rocking but he gave it no mind. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath through gasps of tears. "I can smell my wife's flowers," he said. I let out a short laugh and stared at the beauty with him as I still rocked in his chair. He put his hands on his chest and took in a long, satisfying breath. "I can breath," he said. I stepped up slowly and put my arm around him. "Let's sit down," I said, "Come on Lewis." I had to nudge him backwards as he couldn't be bothered to look away from the beautiful scene ahead of him. I didn't blame him. As I helped sit him down, I took a moment to lean against the railing in front of us. I wanted to savor more of his night because it seemed to make things easier for me when I wasn't just checking off a list. *This was Lewis Morgan's night and he's earned the right to enjoy it,* I thought. Reaching into my front coat pocket, I pulled out a cigarette and placed it between my teeth. I didn't feel my lighter and then I thought for a moment. I lifted my hand out and back in and the lighter was there. The cigarette lit with a puff of smoke and I savored the drag before putting it between my fingers. I turned around to see if he was still staring out at the yard. He was. "Has it always looked this beautiful?" he asked me. I crossed my ankles and leaned back against the railing, blowing my smoke up as to not blow it in his face. "Of course it has," I said. I pointed to him with the hand that held the cigarette, "and you made it that way." His voice quivered as he asked, "I did good?" Something started to swell up in my throat and I quickly cleared it away. I nodded my head slowly, "Yeah Lou. You did good." "My wife is so beautiful. She gave me everything. I want her to see this with me," he said. "All of it seems so meaningless. The late nights spent working on cars at the shop. The fights we always had. Why did that stuff happen? Why am I realizing this now?" I took in another drag and watched a tear roll down his cheek and splash onto his suit jacket. "I don't know Lou but that isn't all that happened. You're reading the wrong chapters. What about June 5th, 1992?" Lou smiled through tears. "Tell me about that night," I said. "I could hear Meagan trying to push the trash down with her foot. I was probably fooling with some stupid thing outside when I heard her scream my name. Oh my god I ran so fast I never caught my balance until I reached the screen door," he said. I laughed, "You flew down that interstate didn't you?" "Yeah," he shared in the laugh. "I didn't even notice though. I was ready to meet Lucia." "You raised her well Lou. I think she turned out alright." "She did. I knew she would. Even though her drunk daddy didn't always give her the love she deserved." I put out the cigarette, "Let me ask you something. Through all of that, did she ever stop saying 'I love you'?" Lou shook his head. "Even after she went to college, did she stop coming home and staying up with you to watch your favorite movies?" "She thought they were stupid." "But she kept watching didn't she? One more thing. Who's upstairs right now?" Lou looked down at his hands, "She is." "She is, Lewis. She's there holding your hand and sitting beside you. Love isn't perfect. It's not a bible verse that is followed to the letter. It's not a country song about a father and daughter fishing down at the lake. Love is standing beside someone in spite of any past mistakes they might've made. Lucia did that for you and you did that for her didn't you?" "I can't remember," he said as he started to cry harder. I leaned down and put my hand on his, "Of course you do. What about the worst night she ever had? What did you do?" "Some guy broke her heart. I figured it was a girl thing. I figured she'd go to her mother and I was halfway down a bottle of Jack anyway." "But you put it down when?" "When she came in and put her arms around me and cried into my shoulder." I looked up at him, "She wanted you. She wanted her daddy. She loved her daddy and you loved her. They all loved you. They still do and that won't end now. Their love will be with you and with them for ever and ever. Trust me. I know what's on the other side and it's not the end." I ushered him down the steps of his porch and into the grass. The woods beside us began to rustle. A man, almost an exact twin of Lewis, stepped out and smiled. The man's arms stretched out and Lewis met his embrace. I placed my hand on Lou's shoulder, "You did good Lewis Morgan and you've earned the right to rest.