Sonny stepped into the hallway of luminous light of their home and says in a singsong voice, " I love you, Daddy. "

She wore a grease-stained shirt--floor-length and white as a nun's habit-- she appeared weathered, frail but still, bright as an angel's halo.

He nods at Sonny's confession, folding back the fly of his pants; the belt taps her heart and chimes, " You love me most of all, baby girl. Yes, you do. Now, show Daddy just how much you love him. I'll show…

The clearing appears empty, " he says looking over a fine layer of snow covering every surface -- powdery and chill underfoot. The smooth stump of the old felled oak is covered with a layer of frost.

" I am here, you are here and that is all that matters, " she shivers, looking up at the thin pin prick of stars up above on this cloudless night and over the dark lake waters spreading out beyond the last of the evergreen pines. firs that only give ground at the very edge of…

Pressed to the bay window in silence, she looked over a sea of green fields interspersed by little islets of trees and edges.

" I love you, my reflection. " He remained focused on the book open in front of him and he shifted in his comfortable desk chair, and she only stirred within.

" My reflection, I said I love you, " He smiled so brilliantly, turning the book face down upon his lap.

She did not respond, only watched over the the shadowy gray…