protection

Standing there with a camera in his right hand, the shutter opening, the power of the flash lights the entire room and the shutter closes. He didn't smile. He walked along the path towards the body. It was on the bed, next to a large stack of newspapers. He photographed the newspapers. He took a picture of the body's face. Open, flash, click. As fast as that, a face forever trapped in film. He didn't notice the smell until he got close the the body. Black male, 19 years of age. Was he black? Or had he been dead too long? He thought back, about the decomposition process. Lividity. Rigor. Bloating. Which stage was the body in? He snapped another picture, this time closer. He noticed how the body didn't move. No rising and falling of it's chest. Just motionless. He thought the body is at peace now. Why? There are more important issues. Why is this body dead? Who caused the death? How long has he been dead? Does this haunting smell ever leave? He got as close to the body's face as he could, almost touching it with the end of the camera. The shutter opens, flash, the body looks alive, the shutter clicks shut.