Fade to Black

By Roy Dorman

Johnny Edwards awakened to the steady beep, beep, beep of a vehicle backing up outside. Although his eyes were still closed, he saw the play of red light strobing across his ceiling. He wondered if old Mrs. Jenkins in the apartment downstairs had suffered a heart attack.

He was somewhat startled when his eyes refused to open.

“He’s in here; I think he’s breathing, but he won’t wake up.”

“Mr. Edwards! Can you hear me?”

’Course I can hear ya; yer yelling in my ear, was Johnny’s last thought. It became totally dark, the red light no longer behind his lids.