Big Man

She took a long drag off her cigarette and tapped it against the ashtray. She exhaled blue smoke as she spoke:

"He was a drunk so he had sleep apnea. You know, where you stop breathing for a minute or two in your sleep and then start again. I'd lay there every night listening to him breath. When he'd stop, I'd wish with all my heart that he wouldn't start again. I felt like crying every time he'd cough and start snoring again."

She stared out the window. The smoke hung around her head like a halo in the filtered sunlight.

"You know, I can't say I'm sorry he's dead. I just can't."