His life filled with words he hated. Cancer. Radiation. Chemotherapy. Inoperable.

He hated that everything should be compromised to have a chance.

He hated that everybody told him how sorry they were, like it was their fault somehow.

Above all, he hated that what he really wanted was another cigarette.

J.D. Hager lives in Northern California with his wife and a small collection of farm animals. When not writing short stories he goes undercover as a middle school science teacher. His code name is Mister Hager. More of his words and wisecracks can be found at jdhager.wordpress.com.