How fitting that their last meal together should be a warm chicken broth, with liver kreplach lightly seasoned with chopped onions, sage and parsley.  It had always been the meal his mother cooked for him whenever he was unwell.

He had been unwell for some time, but Eliana couldn’t care for him anymore.  She lived in the apartment below, estranged from her husband of many years.  She said she had to concentrate on finding work now and he seemed to be on the mend. He would have to cope without her daily visits.

Josef suspected that his mood swings were the real reason.  They always came with the illness.  Even his mother struggled to cope with them. Since her passing, the moods had become darker when they did come, more intense.

Still, he was grateful to Eliana for coming up to bring him food, milk and cigarettes.  She even cleaned the apartment for him whilst he sat brooding, watching her from the sofa.  He had thought that maybe she was attracted to him.  It was the real reason why she made her daily visits.

When he tried to tell her how he felt, she insisted it was too soon after leaving her husband.  It was always the same. Just like all the other bitches.

He got angry, of course he did.  It was the sickness. But now, the least he could do was share one last meal with her.  After all, it was just her liver left in the refrigerator.

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My daily micro fictions are no longer than 250 words and are inspired by word-of-the-day at www.dictionary.com

The word of the day for 23 November 2022 was “kreplach“. Photo from my street archives. See more of my street photography at www.thatdarrenlehane.uk

All stories & photography © 2022, DBA Lehane. All rights reserved. Please do not use or reproduce in any way without the expressed written permission of the author. Please contact me.