“I knew a man who once tried to kill himself,” I said. I swirled the straw in my water, trying to dunk the ice cubes under the surface. “He decided to do it just before sunset, but the sunset was so beautiful he wanted to see it again the next day.” The waitress cleared the dishes in front of me. She was no older than 15 with short blonde hair that brushed her shoulders. “You know, he might still be there on that hill, watching the sunset each night. Waiting to die.” “That’s nice.” “Yes.” The ice cubes had melted. I couldn’t take my eyes off the girl. “Why don’t you sit down for a moment? It’s late and no one else is here besides me. Rest a bit.” The girl didn’t even look up. “I need to clean up in the back.” “Just a moment. Let a greying man have a conversation with someone other than the gas-soaked brains of the soldiers at the front.”
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“Are you supposed to be here?” I didn’t say anything for a moment. “I’m a dying man with some unfinished business.” “What business could you possibly have in Paris? You aren’t French.” “Ah, my French accent fools only the men.” “The Frenchmen at the front don’t care who dies in their place.” “The Americans fight beside the French.” “I suppose.” It was quiet for a moment. I looked out the window. “It’s going to rain
“Are you supposed to be here?” I didn’t say anything for a moment. “I’m a dying man with some unfinished business.” “What business could you possibly have in Paris? You aren’t French.” “Ah, my French accent fools only the men.” “The Frenchmen at the front don’t care who dies in their place.” “The Americans fight beside the French.” “I suppose.” It was quiet for a moment. I looked out the window. “It’s going to rain