Landlord

By Calvary Sheen

Weeks after the Landlord’s son was involved in a hit and run, the Landlord felt his poor son had too many demons, while the suspect was never caught.

Meanwhile, brothers Joseph and Carlos play hide and seek. Noise from across the street draws their attention.

Joseph is at the door first. “Hello?”

Everybody’s dead.

A television’s showing these same people teasing a chubby kid in a basement. “Your father might be the landlord, but he’s no God. If you say anything, it will be just you…and me…forever.”

Sirens outside. Television blows, suddenly…but a whisper, from above, comes, “Stay.”