1299. A panoramic view

One of the first things Desmond did every morning when he got out of bed was to draw aside the expansive drapes from the window looking out across his lawn to the panoramic view of distant mountains. It was like opening a new chapter to his existence! The drawing aside of theatre curtains to begin a Wagnerian opera! The appearance of royal newlyweds kissing on some grand palace balcony! To pull aside the curtains was a titanic gesture; a declaration that this was the first day of the rest of his life!

This morning, when Desmond drew aside the curtains there was a dead body lying on his lawn.

“Holy hell,” said Desmond getting into the shower, “I’d forgotten about last night.”