"The Burial" by Edwin Rincon

The peaceful evening in Irrel caught Rized having a cup of coffee, black and very hot, as the best mate for the cigar he brought from his third trip to the heavenly Havana, while enjoying an amazing 3-cushion billiard match video; he had only tasted three or four small sips, when the silence was suddenly broken by the surprising and strident sound of a frightening thunder that caused an unexpected power failure that made him feel more lonely than ever.
Soon, the rain came along and Rized´s sadness was every time stronger and more evident, while only a few cars could be seen from his soaked window, looking at the dark, he decided to put on a woolen jacket his daughter Rimsi had given him on her last visit to Germany two weeks ago.
The solitary night was attractive to Rized, it seemed always romantic, sad and peaceful, but especially mysterious.
He took his house´s keys from a nail on the kitchen wall and left for the street in search of a pub where he could have a beer and cross some words with a native of the town.
Due to the blackout, bars and taverns were closed and no people wanted to be exposed to the cold and rain; Rized started walking aimlessly, and saw a dim light coming from a near place; he walked by this direction and there was an old man going out with a bottle of rum in his hand.
The old man looked at Rized, he was chilling because of the cold weather; the old man asked him if he wanted to taste the rum, but he refused to accept because he thought the old man had a suspicious appearance; his clothes were ragged and expelled a sweating smell; he was also very tall and looked vigorous in spite of his evident longevity.
“What is your name?”, Rized asked.
“Cezaw”, answered the old man, while taking a pebble out of his nauseating right boot.
But the old man did not ask any detail to Rized, he did not seem interested in knowing any personal issue about him.
- “Darkness is attractive”, Rized said.
- “Why do you think so?”, Cezaw replied.
- “Because it shows a feeling of loneliness and a sensation that you need nobody, Rized answered.
- “You live alone, according to your feelings”, Cezaw inquired.
- “Yeah, humans can manage on their own, there is no need to get involved with a couple to be happy”. Rized responded.
- “By the way, how can I find the cemetery?”, Rized asked.
- “I can join you if you want”, Cezaw replied with a stunning gaze.
- “Ok, show me the route".
- "Will you visit someone´s tumb?”, Cezaw asked.
- “I do not have anybody to pray for”, Rized responded, besides, flowers and bouquets must be given when people are alive, the dead do not feel, Rized added.
- “So, what will you do in the cemetery?”, Cezaw implied.
- “I should bury my feelings” Rized answered.
- “I guess it is impossible my dear foreigner”, Cezaw said.
- “What do you mean, old man?”, Rized told him while playing with his house´s keys around his index finger.
- “Your feelings are alive into your heart, and things should only be buried when they are dead, my inexperienced friend”.