Bogota, Columbia
Hosted by J Hardy at
SHOOTING PRACTICE
(GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION)
By Neel Anil Panicker
“¿Podría decirme la ubicación exacta del corazón?”
Dr Juan Camilo, senior cardiologist at Santa Barnara Medical Center couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
True, in his almost four decade old career he had had patients who made all kinds of demands, bizarre requests, a few outright stupid, and one absolutely insane: ‘Doc, can you stop my heart for ten minutes. I want to experience what it means to die.’
But this one was different, especially so as it came from a person whom all of Bogota nee Columbia respected nee revered to the point of veneration.
He mulled over the entreaty for a moment and then replied, “Claro, si insistes”
The tall young man’s eyes lit up and he replied, “Muchas gracias, doctor.”
It was a decision that the renowned doctor would regret for the rest of his life.
The following day’s newspapers reported the tragic death of José Asunción Silva, the cause, a single bullet shot through the heart.
©neelanilpanicker2017 #historicalfiction #whatpegmansaw #email:neelanilpanicker@gmailcom #161words
(HISTORICAL BACKGROUND)
José Asunción Silva (27 November 1865 in Bogotá – 23 May 1896 in Bogotá) was a Colombian poet. He is considered one of the founders of Spanish–American Modernism.
On the morning of 24 May 1896, a housemaid found Asunción Silva dead in his bed with a gun near his body; he had shot himself in the heart the night before. There are many reasons for his suicide, including the death of his sister Elvira, the loss of almost all his work when his ship sank near a quay in the Caribbean sea, and his debts. Prior to his death, he asked his doctor confidentially to mark the exact location of his heart.
He was buried in the Central Cemetery in Bogotá. Perhaps his more important legacy is the house where he lived, which has been converted into a museum, the Silva Poetry House.[1]
neelwritesblog 
Super cool story. I especially like the first part. The dialog is great.
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Thanks a gazillion, Hardy.
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Stopping a heart for ten minutes is a bit of a stretch, especially if you use a bullet.
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I know, but try telling that to some crazies.
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Great story with some heart-stopping action!
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Dear Neel,
Good piece of historical fiction brought up close and personal. I’d say heart-stopping but that’s already been said. 😉 I’ll just say well done, sir.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Often, geniuses were raving mad. Well written, Neel. Cheers, Varad
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