She was tired of the anecdotes, tired of the 'funny stories', tired of the countless recollections of The Good Times.  Above all,  she was tired of steeling herself for the benefit of family.   Bursting into the bathroom, she swiftly threw the lock and gazed at her sad, sunken reflection in the gold framed mirror over the sink. The levee strained, bulged, and finally broke, silent sobs streaming tears down her sullen cheeks, streaking her…

She was holding the rental video in her hands, reading the cover and smiling fondly as he casually rounded the corner of “Sci-Fi Thrillers” and “Romantic Comedies.”

When he was an arm’s length away, she absently thumbed the belt loop on his hip, gently pulled him close and softly spoke, “This video reminds me of our week in Jamaica, honey, sunning on the beach, shopping for souvenirs,…

His brick of a fist slammed into my face yet again, shredding my cheek to bloody ribbons against broken and jagged teeth. "Not so cocksure now, are ya cityboy," the huge man drawled and drove a knee into my gut for emphasis.

Doubled over and spitting red foam and molars out of my mouth, I saw him retrieve a long, cylindrical shaped instrument from the seat of his cab.

Behind the black and white…