Last Words (Between Life and Death)

- When is your birthday again? Asked Julius

• It is May 6th , exactly in a month Bill answered. At the moment he pronounced these words Bill was wondering if he would ever see Julius again….in fact he already made up his mind. Bill was no psychic, he rather was a down to earth man with strong beliefs and values. That night it was like a voice inside him was telling him …It’s time.

• You know , I invited Julius for my Birthday said Bill to Claudia his wife. But I have a strange feeling, I shouldn’t say this to you, but when I kissed him goodbye I had the feeling that was the last time I would see him…scary isn’t it??

• It is scary Claudia answered. The last time 1 years ago, you had the same premonition about my boss the night he was celebrating the 100 year anniversary of his winery. Couple days after, he went on a hunting trip with friends and employees .Police found his body laying in the high grass. One bullet on the chest, an other one on the left shoulder…. Obviously someone was aiming to the heart don’t you think ?

Bill was a prominent architect. After his degree he decided to spent one year in Egypt where he would study archeology, but not any kind of archeology. He wanted to know more and understand the essence of the various necropolis in ancient Memphis the old capital.

The ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty fascinated him. He wanted to understand why and how Egyptian Royalty was spending their entire life preparing for the afterlife.

For him there was no difference between Life and Death, they are two states of mind : living with the dead was the same as being dead among the living. Facing death everyday is common for everyone he thought. Just listen to the news, or follow the death of a personality on TV where an entire country would stage and glorify the passing…That month of November 1982, after three full days of national mourning the leader of the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev was buried on the Red Square for the entire world to see .

That evening Claudia came back later than usual from her Gym class which happened to be in the neighborhood of Julius apartment. It was a cozy place with a large balcony filled with Tulips, Geraniums and Roses. A couple of aromatic herbs he would use for cooking.

She entered the dining room where Bill was reading while waiting for her return. The paella he had prepared for dinner was ready, the table was set.

Claudia was shaking, tears were ready to explode.

• So, did you do everything like I told you ? Aim to the heart ? What were his last words ?

• Yes I did ! said Claudia with a quivering voice. The scary thing she said while handling him the gun, is that it was easier to do it with Julius than with my boss and his Last Words were”I knew it”