pte

Steve knew he would pay for it in the morning, but at the moment he was too relaxed to care. He burrowed into his blankets, curling up in the center of the b

eve crunched deeper into the covers as the song played in his wine misted head. ...And now my bitter hands...Chafe b

a down one of the back roads. Jenna was in the passenger's seat, her hand resting lightly in his as he dro

the odometer rolled. Most of the miles put on the little green machine since Steve had bought it secon

for her amusement. In his sleep, Steve smiled while his dream hand gave Jenna's hand a squeeze. Jenna laughed at one of his co

is brother to splash on before his night out, the leather of his jacket and the

wder an

s image; long straight dark brown hair, half smile with a dimple in her left cheek. It wasn't Jenna's face he saw when he turned. It was Juliet's. Her skin was waxy white, marred by

ween them. ...is something wrong...she said...of course there is...you're still alive...she said...do i deserv

w breath to scream, but found he couldn't. The scent was choking him. He felt his eyes bulge and his chest co

ting and covered with sweat. Steve took a shaky breath and ran a

r off. Saturday was usually his day to sleep in, but Steve knew there was no going back to sleep this morning. He slid out of bed and pulled his crumple

d hit the button. The crunching sound filled the night quiet house and helped chase sleep further away. He tr

w in peace. Normally his first cup of the day was taken black but today needed a little sweetness and light. He added a spoonful of su

hat heavy waiting feel to it. He took a sip of coffee and settled in to watch daylight creep into the sky.

smears of color, like wet oils on a fresh canvas in an abstract design. No definite images, just the play of colors, of shad

rl, Juliet." He said it to the slowly lightening yard as if it definit

lf even a thought of her? Ten? Twelve years? Possibly, even longer. He could still close his eyes and feel the silky texture of her hair a

d to Pearl Jam and drove his beat up car aimlessly just to see where the road might lead was gone. In his place was a man w

aw, destroying this life he had so painstakingly built. It was better to let it all go than to risk bringing everything back. His thoughts started to drift into the black. The

ht had solidified its hold on the world and Steve could hear th

began, the words drawn ou

k, what can

ng, I just got home. I guess it is." Steve roll

ed somethi

d through his internal notes loosely labeled "Conversat

bag?" he asked after

in my bathroom and Amber found the keys in the car. Didn't you baby?" Steve could hear the lilt of

is a good time to get them?" he

e, Amber wants to ge

ud

e won fir

yly. "I'll come and get them now, an

here." Nick hung up the phone and Steve frowned at the dial tone. Shaking his head, he hung