The Road

He was a long time going to sleep. After a while he turned and looked at me. His face in the small light streaked with black from the rain like some old world thespian.


Can I ask you something? he said.
Yes. Of course.
Are we going to die?
Sometime. Not now.
And we're still going south.
Yes.
So we'll be warm.
Yes.
Okay.
Okay what?
Nothing. Just okay.
Go to sleep.
Okay.
I'm going to blow out the lamp. Is that okay?
Yes. That's okay.


And then later in the darkness: Can I ask you something?
Yes. Of course you can.
What would you do if I died?
If you died I would want to die too.
So you could be with me?
Yes. So I could be with you.
Okay.


there's something about this novel. it's heartbreaking. it's bleak. it's strangely lovely. it's about a father and son. it's about holding someone you love and knowing that he or she is all that matters. it brought tears.

just promise me you'll read it, okay? okay.