The Question

We all knew he was crazy as soon as he said those words. At the time it was something to laugh about, joke around and pass it off as another symptom of intoxication from various substances. But I knew that there wasn’t any humor behind his statement, and contrary to what the stories say it wasn’t his eyes that told me the truth. Rather it was the way his hand trembled as he breathed deeply on the joint we were passing around, a small shiver that could only be seen in the way the smoke rippled from the cherry-red tip. It was more clearly evident in the way his smile tightened and etched itself more deeply into face and my memories of that night. Months later they found him on the beach, the scar of that smile still on his face, a harsh scratch of blue on pale flesh. At the funeral there were tears and claims that no one knew, no one suspected. Though I suspected that he had finally found the answer to those words he had said so long ago. While we were left behind with only questions.