some inexplicable reason. I helped my father, having watched him back over the years. Old Alice remained but I suspecte

I was practically running the kitchen at home as well. This was how I knew that Dad's fi

t with a pockmarked face, in the bakery. I had walked back

e man was speaking in a

you pay

the door, my backpack slung

a smile that made my flesh crawl. His eyes took in my figure, lin

oice I had never heard. I rushe

ntroduction t

a small one, compared to

and was over his head in deb

d to ask him about it but

too young to bother you

pleadingly

l Heather,

ed suicide, declared the policeman who c

resen

front rooms. There is a staircase, I notice as I trot, trying to keep up with the man as he takes me down the hall which is stra

and cut crystal, bottles gleaming with their golden contents, and heavy drapes, dark maroon in colour. Leather and smoke seem to fill the sir and I stop, hes

the mechanical and smooth everyday murmurs of employees going about their daily tas

is room where I can feel eyes stripping me o

...I want

he answer even before he speaks. I am dimly aware of t

ase

rically, flicker over me, with a sudden flash of somethin

a vi

ith a boy, although I am tu

ook over the role of father

g an alcoholic in denial, and with the added task of taking care of my

ent to parties, had boy

adie and Gladys tried

p. Besides, they had

ed in the mirror, it was only to brush out my cascading chestnut hair, which I

dab a little moisturizer, and this afternoon, I had pu

ng golden gaze that seemed to st

his hands are large, so large, they could wrap around my waist, plump though I am. Finn St Just's like a giant before me, a gian

chuckle behind me an

growls a bored, gravelly voice tha

ands before me, wringing them un