sudden leave

Leroy made his way back to where he lives near his shop, he didn't feel the cold despite its intensity, the air permeated his chest increasing his ecstasy and relaxation, the mixture of drugs and cigarettes that he absorbed slowly settled on his lungs, sweating it out .

near a dark wall he stopped to empty his bladder that was overwhelmed with its load, he unzipped his pants and exhaled in relief before a voice came from his right shook him off, the flow of his hair on the wall was cut off and the hair on his hands and head stood on end.

close to him stood a goat with high horns, a long white beard, and hollow eyes, Leroy calmly stuffed his merchandise into his trousers and turned to face him: "Now you show yourself as a goat this time, you son of a devil..." He exaggerated his trembling scream with a foot strike on the ground that didn't move a hair on the goat

Leroy swallowed his saliva and began to mumble some prayers in an audible whisper, the goat kept staring at him for a few more seconds before it turned around and walked away quietly.

Leroy struggled to catch his breath, following the shadow as it faded away without a sound. He froze in place, turning his back to a solid wall before tightening his scarf and extending his steps, taking the opposite path. He tried to ward off those he always encountered after midnight, those who, after the drugs potion, materialized into goats, sheep, and howling black dogs.

He shook them off his head and summoned "geneva" from a special corner of his imagination. Her scent crept into his nose, and her anklet whispered in his ear. The pink heel dragged him. He swam in the spring of her breasts and squeezed them tightly.

" They torment me and they confuse me and torment me, and when I complain, they quarrel with me and get angry when I say, "Oh, you've wronged me one day." He hummed, dispelling the darkness of the alleys with his singing .

Until leroy reached his house,climbed the ten

steps that separated him from the door and knocked. A minute later, Sofia opened the door and all the fantasies vanished from his head at once:

- "Why are you up at this hour"? Leroy asked his wife .

She answered him worriedly: "loius was a little sick, he had a cough... But What's wrong with you dear ?"

"Burp.. I have a stomach ache and my chest is a little tight..would you Make me a cup of mint tea and light some incense please honey".

"Okay, but stay close to the boy while I boil a guava leaf for him and make the tea for you ".

Leroy took off his hat and scarf, peeled off his coat and lay down next to Louis , who was woken up by the clanking of the bedposts:

""What's wrong, Louis"?

With weak eyes, he answered, "I'm tired, Dad. I have a cough."

"That's Because you don't eat properly like your father".

Thats was when Leroy felt a prick...a nail

It pierced his shoulder and chest. He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and hugged his little one after kissing his forehead. Minutes later, a snort came out. A loud snort. A rattle

Enough for Safia to run out of the kitchen with the kerosene lamp and stumble. She entered the room and approached the bed: "leroy... Leroy !!"

From the next room, Linus heard the scream and bumped into his mother near the door.

- "What's wrong with dad , mom"?

- "Your father isn't answering me"!!

"Dad... Dad... Linus jumped over him after he pushed louis away" .

He grabbed his arms and started raising and lowering them as he had received first aid in the military youth course , He cut the small buttons of his vest and they scattered under his feet. Two seconds later, Adam and Margaret emerged, followed by jean and Camille, then Laurence.

Linus stuck to the copper post of the bed, his eyes bulging, unable to comprehend what was happening. he shouted: "Give me a glass of water, mom.. Bring the light closer, jean ".

He then rubbed his dad chest... He looked at his fading eyes: "No, Dad, no" ... His tears fell on his father's chest, who gave him a look that convinced him to stop his attempts, before he turned to louis with weak eyes and whispered: "Don't be afraid... Don't be afraid" .

After that, he was unable to utter a word... His eyes filled with tears... Seconds later, he gave up his soul.

He died crying...

Linus put his ear to his father's chest and heard the deafening silence. He screamed and they screamed:" No, Dad, no. He got up and smashed his head through the window, blood gushing down his forehead and his mother collapsed to the ground. The girls fell on her, sobbing, and the boys pushed themselves onto their father's chest.

while loius remained silent and expressionless, watching in astonishment what was happening, his gaze fixed on the pale face until a hand pulled him away and he sank into a deep embrace.

The next day, the funeral procession was solemn, and the people of the neighborhood, Jews, Christians, and Muslims, walked in it. Everyone wept for him, headed by his two companions who spent his last evening with him. They buried him in a courtyard he had bought when he came to france, after they had prayed for him Neville came bearing his sorrow and hundred francs that leroy had saved with him. He consoled Sofia and patted Linus on the shoulder.

"You are the man of the house now.. Pull yourself together".

Then he called Louis, who seemed more silent than usual. He played with his hair and studied his face:

- " you're the spitting image of your father".

He handed him half a franc : "Come to the store tomorrow, louis." Louis nodded his head and did not respond.