"Are you sure you want to be digging into this Pepperoni?"

She knew the answer. "I need to know" I replied sternly.

The local librarian sighed as she grabbed the sacred text I'd been after. finally, after all these years I'd be able to see what had happened to Andrew Martin. The man that shaped my career, but more importantly mysteriously disappeared the second after he announced his retirement from the SHL.

"I can't help you anymore after this, I don't want the heat that this is going to bring". I was disappointed, but despite her refusals I could see the desire to continue in her eyes, she was teetering over the edge, and just needed a shove.

"I know this is dangerous Debra, but don't you have any sense of adventure anymore! you're not the same person I once knew".

"I literally met you this morning Tony".

She had a point.

I opened the now tattered newspaper, years since it's text had been typed. My mouth drawn agape I read the headline.

"Former SHL Great Opens Local Salad Shop to the Joy of Citizens!"

Debra could see my disappointment and anger. I riled up the courage to look her in the face and tell her what I read.

"What does it say pepperoni"?

"It's an obituary, he's not with us anymore".

I put the paper back where it was stored. Untouched and unmarked except for the one lone tear that fell upon the face of Andrew Martin.

@Good_Ole_Kimmy