Keith needed a
coffee
. The
Ethiopian
place looked closed from the look of it. He thought about suggesting they try opening the door to see if maybe they were still in service. Immediately after the thought he decided against it.
The two continued their walk. The wind was no longer strong. In fact there was none. The storm was over. The effects of it were still in play. Places without power. Branches and debris on the ground.
"You want a smoke?"
"Sure." Keith said. "Can you light me?"
Keith strained to hold back a cough. Bit his tongue after the first inhale. A light
cough
came out anyhow.
Then he quickly tried to play it cool by taking another puff. Didn't inhale this time.
"You don't smoke do you?"
"No."
"I don't either these days. Been vaping instead."
"Are you smoking a cig right now because your
vape
is dead?"
"Nah. It's not dead. Charged it in the car. This is from the final pack I had when I swore off cigs. Kept it, even though I vowed to quit cigarettes. This was back when people thought vaping was healthier. Kept it though for
sentimental
reasons though."
Max peered down at this pack of
Marlboro
. "There's only four left."
Keith peered over to see. "Wait, why don't you have this back then? I shouldn't take one of your last cigs from you."
Max waved Keith's offer away. "It's my pleasure. I wouldn't have given final cigarette #6 away to anyone else."
He spread his arms and swung around to highlight the scene.
"I'll remember this cigarette for the rest of my life!"
Keith smiled with the cigarette tight between his fingers.
"Of course, unless you really don't want that cigarette then you can put it out and give it back. But don't do it just because you are trying to be nice."
Keith looked down at his cigarette. Compared his grip to Max's. Max's cigarette hung limp in a loose grip. Keith clenched his like a child. He didn't want the
cigarette
but he wanted this moment to last. Wanted to remember it with cigarettes in hand. He took another puff.