Bringing In Reinforcements

Cursing more savagely now, Lanie stepped toward him. This was not the meeting she’d envisioned between the two of them. And at the same time, now that it was happening, she felt an inexplicable dark mood settle over her.

Pain Management

“So why would I tell you that I’m in pain, then? You always act like it’s my fault. You’re never on my side.”

Isn’t it Funny?

“No one is getting killed! Henry has never done anything to her. All he’s going to do is find her and serve her the papers. You know how much she values her privacy. She’d rather settle with me than go to court. This will be over quickly. And you girls will be set for life.”

Jail Bird Rock

She smiled at him, her blood beginning to settle she reached for the detached calmness of a mission. This was just like any other hit. And oh, how good it would feel to release this tension.

Kissed By An Angel

So, he hadn’t been that upset when his wife had taken the boy and run off. Good riddance.

What Was it All For

He regarded her, keeping his expression closed off. It was hard to tell what he was thinking, now that his face was completely covered in bushy dark hair, and his bangs hung in his eyes.

Memories in the Moonlight

I will always love your mother, Dre. It’s not something that will ever go away.

Ships in A Bottle

Hugging herself tightly, she tried to breathe past the stiffness in her lungs. At least he was talking to her again. She wasn’t sure if she preferred the silent treatment, but she tried to believe that this would be better in the long term.

A Slow Decline Into Madness

She turned on the most plaintive look she could muster. Soon, she’d fill him on her plans, but right now she had to find a way to get the pounding out of her head. “I need to kill something, Jake. If I don’t, this stress is going to do me in.”

Nightmares

“Do you understand that you utterly, utterly broke me? I trusted you. I loved you, I poured my dreams and my fears into you.”

(Don’t) Kill Yourself?

Sometimes we can’t live with what we’ve done to others, or the pain that others have caused us. Sometimes the things that people do to us screw us up so bad that it’s pretty likely we’ll never be the same again. Sometimes, life just really, really sucks. So if life is this bad and things aren’t ever going to get better, what are the alternatives?

54

The hardest part lately has been the grief and pain that seems to come out of nowhere. Sometimes I won’t even know what the trigger is. But all of a sudden, I’ll just be drowning in it, with nowhere to turn and no idea what to do with out other than shut it out.

All the Pretty Little Horses

Dre considered. Not for the sexually gratifying possibilities, but because of the duck. That happy yellow duck with those gentle, cleansing hands. The duck didn’t have to do anything other than be, and the hands did everything else, washing away the blackness that there was no hope of dealing with alone.

One Step At A Time

He’s under forty. Women want his attention everywhere he goes. He has a lot going for him. And now, he’s found a place he loves, after years of wandering and wondering whether his life was adding anything to the world.

Deadly Mistake

Nothing made her angrier than insinuations that she had feelings for him. Since it was such a laughable idea. But instead of the blazing anger he had braced for, she seemed to scrutinize him.

Underestimated

Reluctantly, Ben tore his eyes from the doorway, then heaved himself off the ground and went to Lanie. Instantly, she was surrounded by the cloud of his stink. He reeked of alcohol and body odour. She wondered if the babies stunk now, too.

Everything Explodes

With each step toward the bunkhouse, she ached to go back, and stay with him for ever in the world of their dance. She felt unsure of her next move on this treacherous terrain that she’d been walking for so long.

A Secret Admirer

A blind, all-consuming, homicidal rage cast the bleakest of black shadows in his soul.

Week 2, Day 7

I tried to see if one of my friends still had their old apartment that I could potentially stay at, but that was a no go, so I guess I’m destined to stay here for a while. I was disappointed at first, but maybe this is my chance to do this right.

Broken Dreams

He was there for her after she went home. For a while, her old friends from church, including Lilah, were, “So sorry,” and wondered, “Why didn’t you just call me?”

53

I’m trying to be grateful. Not because I’m some wellspring of gratitude, but because things really could be worse.

Biggest Fear

Part of him wants to turn away, to cover himself. But for once, he feels no shame around her.

Marital Strife

He sighed, hating the way his mood tried to plummet. But he wouldn’t let it.

Nesting

The familiar sense of anger, confoundment, and betrayal rose up in him again, but he forced himself to focus on his goal.

A Gift for You

If only she could go up to that idealist, so much like her and yet so different, and scream in her face:

Memory Lane

At first, he felt nothing. It was peculiar. Usually, he felt so many things that he couldn’t number or contain them.

42

And I’m here. When I don’t believe that it will happen for me, I will believe that it will happen for you. When you don’t believe, I’ll believe enough for the both of us.

Week 1, Day 7

I’ve felt satisfied and fulfilled, and frustrated and scared. Today, I was hit with a powerful burst of longing for the life I used to have. Mostly, I’ve been tired. It’s been hard getting used to sleeping in the cold, and even though I’ve managed to stay quite warm under the blankets with layers of clothes, it’s never easy to poke my head up into the frosty air.

52

So, I spent my first night back in the city, and I feel more motivated than ever to change my situation. The only Airbnb that I could afford for the week is an absolute disaster.