He threw His leg across the old Harley and it fired on the second kick. The bike stuttered for a little while, then it warmed and settled into a throbbing beat that if listened to closely enough sounded like a heartbeat. He pushed down on the shifter and it clunked into gear. They moved off into the crisp November air not seeming to be in any hurry.

This was just going to be a short ride. The leaves had long ago turned from green to brown and were now falling everywhere. Riding was beautiful this time of year and especially this time of morning. He did what he always did when he was riding. He remembered. He could feel her breasts pressed into his back. He could feel the warmth of her close to him. He could hear her whispering I love you in his ear. He could see their son, now a grown man, through all of the years as he was growing up.

The old Harley's heartbeat throbbed away. He could see her beautiful eyes and her smile. He could feel his son's small fingers touch his face for the first time, and then remembered the day that he was born. The old Harley's heartbeat throbbed away. If you could have seen his old weathered face, you would have seen a smile. When he was riding, all of the good things in life were there with him.

The old Harley's heartbeat throbbed on... It was time. The doctors led her Into the room so she could be with him as they turned off the machine that was breathing for him. The machine had been breathing for him for two years now. The morning ride had been all In his mind. As he went to sleep for the last time, she saw a smile cross his face. She wondered what he was thinking about He looked so peaceful, just like he was sleeping. The old Harley's heartbeat was silent now.

She was standing in the living room,when she heard the throbbing heartbeat of an old Harley. She closed her eyes and remembered what it felt like to have her breasts pressed into his back, to feel the warmth of his body close to hers. She remembered their son through all of the years growing up. She remembered all of the good things in their lives. At that moment she understood his last smile. She knew that as long as she was alive. that whenever she heard the throbbing heartbeat of a Harley that he would be right there. She could see his smile and she could hear the heartbeat of the Harley as he rode off into the distance. © 2001 O.D. Riffey, all rights reserved.

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