A Cigar on the Roof with You

Small pleasures like ghosts in a cloud of smoke

Illustrations by Syan Rose

The first time was on the roof, and so every time after had to be on the roof, even though it violated the building’s bylaws. Fortunately it was raining in our rainy town, so we were alone up there, under a big purple bruise of a sky. It took a few small inhalations to get the thing lit, and then he passed it to me, casual and…