ONE LAST CIGARETTE

Author: MaskenVA
Suggested Ambiance:❄ Scary Cold Howling Snowstorm in a Frozen Arctic Environment for Relaxation, Sleeping and Fantasy.
Relaxing Soundzzz

Genre: Sad, Tragedy
Tone: weary acceptance, Somber, weak, dying

Context: dying alone in the woods and having his final thoughts.

Damn. Might be the best cigarette I’ve ever had.

(Softer, looking at the smoke drift upward. Subtle smile)

And it only took… what? Twenty-something years and a hole in my side to appreciate it?

(A bit more tired now. Reflective)

They say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die.

Still waiting on that.

No montage. No childhood memories.

Just this. The cold. The quiet. Inhale and exhale of cigarette. The snow is falling like it’s got nothing better to do.

(Shift slightly, like he's trying to sit up)

Faint wince.I thought I’d be afraid.

But I’m not. It's more peaceful than I thought it would be. There's no more noise.

All that pressure to be something, to fix something, prove something… just… gone.

(Drag from the cigarette)

Slow Breathe.I wonder if someone’s gonna find me here. Some stranger, maybe a week from now, maybe longer.

Will they stop and wonder what happened? How I died? What I was thinking in my last few minutes?

(Voice softens. Almost warm)

Maybe they’ll imagine I went out with some heroic last words. Or that I whispered someone’s name. Maybe they'll think I just faded out like a light. No drama. No message.

Just gone.

(Ash flick)

Dry chuckle low and quiet.Truth is… I don’t know what my last thought’ll be. Might be this. Might be the one after. Could be about the snow… Could be wondering if this cigarette’ll burn my fingers before I check out.

Sigh.Not a bad way to go though. Better than some slow death in a hospital bed. Small pause. Better than nothing.

Another breath.I used to think I was wasting my life. Too much time behind screens, behind walls, behind excuses. And then I started living.

A little late maybe, but I did. I fought for it, and now.

(Almost like a whisper. Let the words drift)

Now I’m here. Still fighting, I guess… just in a quieter way.

(Look down at the cigarette)

One last puffThat really was a damn good cigarette.

(Flick it. small smile slip through)

Not a bad place to go.