Mandelstam, Myself Included by Mary Susannah Robbins - HTML preview

CHAPTER 31

EZEKIEL

When my father was dying he stood on the ledge of the hospital window and said, ―I don‘t know what to do. Should I jump?‖

―Jump, and I‘ll catch you,‖ I said.

He jumped.

We ran.

He didn‘t know what city he was in and neither did I. I had never been there before. It was night.

―Run!‖ he said.

We ran through the deserted streets, ran and ran, until we came out in the countryside.

―It‘s beautiful, ― my father gasped. ―So quiet.‖

We ran fleeing.

Then he leapt into the air. ―You stay behind and tell them,‖ he said. ―Ezekiel!‖ he cried.

―I saw Ezekiel!‖