An Answer

20 Donald Zaremba An Answer She knew she'd die in the Department of Corrections, now that she was much too old to explain or even remember fifty years of unforgiving children, thankless jobs, cigarettes, and heroin. In return, the years left a stain in her throat. Short of breath, much too old to return to doorknobs that don't turn, the company of broken teeth, and clothing for the sleep of years, too old to breath the same air recirculated again and again down corridors of endless echoes, she simply didn't have the time for punishment any longer. Just by looking at her, the judge knew a few bad checks weren't worth what was left of those years. He took her guilty plea, then released her to an appointment at the hospital. She never showed. She walked off to wherever she went without another word. ...