Life was so warm, and even though he lay dying in the alleyway behind the bar, he couldn’t help but marvel at it.

His fingers were sticky with his own blood. The knife had found purchase, and it found it deep within his gut.

His breaths were shallow and quick, but he wasn’t in too much pain. He was too surprised at the waves of memories to concentrate on the waves of agony. It was true what he had heard. You live the important moments of your life, and you remember everyone you ever loved just before you die.

He remembered his first kiss, and that sweetheart of a girl who he had spent a long, lovely summer with in Jefferson City.

He remembered his company, those brilliant boys in blue who he had gone to the line with every day for twenty years.

As it was pouring into his head, it was leaking out of his stomach. Blood and soul, one and the same. The past was filling up his head so fast that he couldn’t keep track of it all.

His cell wrang, too late to save his life, but not so late.

“Love you. Bye.”