Just for Halloween

The day after Sam moved out, she took a sledgehammer to that gawd-awful wood panelling in the basement. And there it was. No body—just a head with empty eyes, leathery skin and long thinning hair. Female, she supposed. Old and abandoned like her. Smelling of nothing but dust. This was years ago, and Cleo the Head had been with her ever since—more faithful than the kids who never visit and great emotional support. Better than a pricy therapist. Every night, lying in the dark, Cleo whispers to her of all the things she could do with that sledgehammer.

Inspired by Old People Smell. Image by ChatGPT.