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Meeting 52 January 17

"Hi, I'm Madison. I'm an alcoholic."

"Hi Madison," the group replied.

"It's been a month since I've been here. I have no idea how I made it that long. It's still been half a year since I drank, so that's good. I thought I had made it far enough that I didn't need to come. But the last two weeks have been rough. I knew a meeting would help. I'm glad I'm here.

"My husband was so abusive. He still drank. I imagine he still does. We got divorced in November. I thought with the split, the holidays would be awful. But ... I felt better. Being away from him, even though I had to start over, I felt better.

"I didn't decorate or anything. I actually visited my sister enough to get the feel of Christmas. She had her house decorated. I didn't feel like I was missing out. I just felt ... free.

"I don't know why this new year is bringing me down though. I thought about New Year's resolutions. I couldn't think of any. I just couldn't picture this year. I had felt better being away from ... him. But now, I just can't wrap my head around what the future should be. For the first time in months, I wanted a drink. I came close. It scared the crap out of me. That's why I needed to be here.

"You all are helpful. Thank you."

The group clapped.

Madison had been at my first meeting. It hadn't occurred to me that I hadn't seen her in a while. If I stopped coming, I hope someone would notice. Surely my friends here would check on me.

"Hi, I'm Cecilia. I'm an alcoholic."

"Hi Cecilia," the group replied.

"Things are better between my mom and me. She still drinks, but she doesn't yell at me for not drinking anymore. I try very hard not to come off judgmental. I never tell her what she should do. At first, she took it personally. Now, we just try to be nice to each other. When I visit and she hasn't been drinking, it goes well. If she has, I try to keep it short.

"After a few slip ups at the beginning, I get my Six Months chip tonight.

"Thank you."

The group clapped.

I got my Six Months chip two weeks ago. It's on my fridge. It was such a great way to start the new year. Jakob kept his in his wallet. It stayed with him at all times out of the apartment. It's a shame he wasn't feeling well. I missed him being here tonight.

"Hi, I'm Baker. I'm an alcoholic."

"Hi Baker," the group replied.

Oh shit. It was him.

"I didn't know if I was going to share. But after hearing Madison, I knew I needed to. She was able to get away from her abusive husband. It brought home that Tyler couldn't get away from me."

No, he couldn't, asshole. He killed himself because of you.

"I would do anything to go back. He had nowhere to go. He just kept taking the shit I gave him. I was so mad at him for getting better ... sober. It fueled my anger. What an ass I was. Every day I think about him."

Good! I hope it hurts.

"I've gone two weeks without a drink. While that is good, the guilt isn't any better. I don't see how I can get better. What can possibly take the pain away? I – I just don't know what to do. To be honest. I'm scared. I don't know if I want to go on."

Man. Fuck.

"I'm hanging in there. Barely.

"Thank you."

The group clapped.

After the last share, I helped put away the chairs. I wanted to go home and check on Jakob, but I hadn't had a chance to talk to Cooper. He hadn't shared. A few of us said we'd go out for a short while. Sandy hadn't joined us in a few weeks, so she came along. She invited Baker.

Shit.

I had hot chocolate. They all had coffee.

"Cooper, you haven't really talked about you and Mitch. I know you two talked last week. How are you?" I asked.

"I'm not sure."

"What do you mean?" O asked.

"He has apologized through the roof. He says he loves me. He wants to be with me."

"That sounds good," I said.

"He kissed that guy at work. I can't get over it. He said it was a mistake. It was just something stupid that popped up. They had dated before he started seeing me. He said the guy came on to him and kissed him. He didn't initiate it. But he begged me to forgive him for making the mistake of accepting the kiss. Really begged. He says he loves me and wants us to be together. I want to believe him, but ..."

"But what?" I asked. "It's love. Forgive him. You love him."

"Can I trust him?"

"Do you feel better being away from him?"

"NO. I miss him."

"Then work it out with him. He's human. Allow him a mistake. We're all here because of mistakes, right?"

Baker sobbed. We all looked at him.

"Baker?" Sandy asked.

"Tyler forgave me. He kept coming back. Until he didn't. My mistakes were too big." Baker wept.

Ophelia moved down to sit with him on the end. I had a very hard time mustering sympathy for him. I totally agreed with what he had said. O handed him a slip of paper. She told him it was suicide hotline. She asked him to make sure he carried it at all times as long as he felt this way. Sandy gave him her number in case he needed someone to call.

I just wanted to get away from him.

"Um. Sorry. Jakob's feeling sick. I kind of want to go check on him. Good night, everyone," I said.

When I got home, Jakob was in bed. Evan was too. He had the same thing.

"You're both sick?" I asked.

"Yeah. One of us probably gave it to the other. Who knows which?" Jakob said.

Evan had bought a package of masks. They asked me to wear one. They both were when they were in the living room or when I came into the bedroom.

"Have you eaten anything?" I asked.

"We weren't hungry earlier," he said, sounding a little stuffed up.

"Can I make you some soup?"

"Actually, that sounds kind of good now."

I went into the kitchen to see if we had some chicken noodle soup. We did. Since Jakob had moved in, we had done a nice job of stocking the cabinets. It was a third person in the apartment, and since he was here, we would be going out less. I knocked on Evan's door. He invited me in. I poked my head in the room.

"I'm making Jakob soup. Can I bring you some?"

He appreciated the effort.

Ten minutes later, I walked a bowl into Evan. He said, "Thank you." His face had the look of someone with a serious cold. His nose was red from blowing it into tissues all too often. I remembered how miserable that was; it was more frustrating than anything else.

"Need anything else?"

He shook his head.

"Okay." I kissed the top of his head. "Love you, Evan."

I shut his door, just leaving a crack open in case he needed to call me for something.

I took the rest of the soup to our bedroom. I sat next to Jakob as he started eating. He insisted I wear a mask. I could smell he had sprayed Lysol to kill germs before I had walked in.

"I don't want you to get sick, angel."

"I hate that you don't feel well. I feel bad." I looked at him sympathetically. "What can I do?"

"I'm fine. It's runny nose, sneezy, cough stuff. I'm sure it is just a cold." He took a slurp of soup. "I'm sorry I messed everything up."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"We haven't even lived together three weeks, and I mess it up by getting sick."

"It's not like you went out and intentionally purchased the illness," I insisted. "You're a human being, babe." He took another slurp. "Now if you had caught it by making out with some other dude ... well, that's another story."

He rolled his eyes. "Evan is the other one sick, so we know that wasn't it."

"He is jealous of our sex life."

Jakob chuckled, then choked, then coughed.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"If I was back at the apartment by myself, I wouldn't have to worry about you getting sick."

"If you were back at the apartment, you'd be alone, and that would make me miserable."

I just wanted to hold him. I had never really taken care of anyone in my life before. I suddenly felt motherly. I wanted him to feel loved.

"I do have one request," he said.

"What can I do, baby?"

"Don't be mad, but I don't want you to catch this. If I asked you to sleep on the couch, would you be mad at me?"

"Oh, honey. I want to hold you and be next to you."

"I know you do. And I love you for it. But why make you sick? I'll feel better if I think I'm protecting you."

"You're sweet. But I hate being away from you."

"Evan got us zinc tablets and cold medicine. Maybe we'll be better tomorrow or the day after."

When he was done, I grabbed his bowl and kissed him on the top of the head. I went back into the kitchen and got him a fresh glass of ice water. I went to the closet to get some sheets and a blanket.

"Can I get you anything else, baby?"

"I'm fine. Thank you, angel."

"I love you, Jakob. Good night."

I hated being away from him. But this was what he wanted. It wasn't late. I turned on the news. Nothing was of interest, so I made up the couch with the sheets while it was on. I took a zinc tablet too. I figured, why not?

I could see Evan's light was out, so I went ahead and called it a night. I stripped to my underwear.

 

—

 

I heard Evan's door open. I wasn't sure what time it was. He stumbled into the kitchen and turned on the light. He was naked.

 

Mike had stayed over. We had a great dinner. I liked Trent being here, and I was happy to cook for them after they helped me move. But I messed things up. I told Mike information that Trent hadn't shared. I felt bad. I felt bad I hurt my best friend. I hoped he would forgive me. Trent wouldn't be staying here too much longer. I just wanted us to be in a good place.

I wasn't sleepy, but I thought I'd just have another beer. I was naked but walked to the kitchen anyway. I munched on some chips on the counter. I thought I heard someone coughing but couldn't tell for sure.

It reminded me that Mike and Trent were together in the other room. Had they fucked tonight? What kind of sex had they enjoyed in there? I remember when all three of us had sex in the school shower. It was hot. I wished all three of us were doing it now. I took a big gulp of my beer. We're three hot studs. I wish Trent would let us all have sex. He won't even let me touch him. I had finished the beer and popped open another one.

Trent's door opened. Mike walked into the kitchen naked. Only the stove light was on. He didn't see me sitting in the dark corner at first. He was naked. He wanted it. Trent wouldn't have sex with me, but I remember Mike sucking my cock. He would do it. He must have wanted it.

"Oh, you startled me," Mike said. "Hm. It seems we're both naked. I didn't know you would be up. Sorry."

"Don't be. Maybe we should do something about it," I said, getting up to stand next to him.

"Um. That's the beer talking, Lance. I just need some water."

Mike leaned into the fridge to get a bottled water. My hand touched his ass.

"Hey."

He turned around. Seeing him naked started my cock getting hard.

"You're so sexy. Want to fuck me? Want to suck me?" I asked.

"Lance, I think you just need to sleep the night off, okay?"

"Trent won't do anything, but I know you'll give me a blow job."

I grabbed his hand and put it on my cock. Then I held my hand around his grip. I moved our hands to make them pull on my dick. My other hand reached over to hold his cock. Mike wasn't hard. He wasn't as long as I remembered him from the shower. But I liked holding this hunk's penis anyway. I smiled at him in the dim lighting.

"Lance. Stop."

"What the heck is going on?" Trent said, standing at the edge of the kitchen.

 

I'm not sure if I ever recalled seeing Evan naked before. His dick was average, like most of my old basketball teammates. It looked kind of tapered. Wide at the base but hung to a streamlined head. He had a good bush.

"You okay, Ev?" I asked.

He jumped. I guess he didn't realize I was sleeping on the couch.

"Jeez. If I knew you were there, I would have put something on. I guess I'm a bit feverish. I got so hot I took my pajamas off."

"Don't worry about me. Are you okay?"

"I thought I'd grab a bottled water."

"How do you feel?"

"Just hot. I'm not sniffling or anything. Thankfully, I'm not coughing either."

"Well, if you need anything, I'm here."

"Thanks, cousin."

 

I hated the stupid cast. That car wreck was so humiliating. Here was Mike having to help me take a shower. How embarrassing. I felt so helpless. Dad was in the living room. I would have been mortified for him to have to help me undress. Trent would probably have felt awkward to help me get naked with Mike out there. Mike was kind to step in and help. But I felt so stupid.

I got my shoes off okay. Mike helped me get my shirt off. We gently pulled it over the cast. We didn't want to pull the plastic wrap off.

"You're not going to be able to take your jeans off by yourself," Mike said.

He unbuttoned my fly and unzipped me.

"Good lord," I said. "I am so sorry."

He wriggled the jeans over my hips and helped pull them off while I sat on the bed. As humiliated as I was, I was slightly getting hard. I walked into the bathroom. I reached into the shower and turned on the water. I stepped back while it warmed up. I could get my briefs off with no help.

"I'm so sorry, Mike. I'm such a fuck up. I couldn't just mess up my life, here I've dragged you into it."

"I am your friend, Lance. I'm here to help. Let me know if you need anything."

I stepped in. I got my hair wet. I held my arm up out of the spray. I reached for the shampoo.

"Hold on. This will be easier if I do it," Mike said.

He pulled off his shirt.

"Aim the spray to the side," he said.

Mike stepped into the shower. He lathered up my hair. His touch was nice. I was embarrassed, but it still felt nice. My thoughts were of another man's hands on me. Before I had a chance to rinse, I was exhibiting a full boner. There was no disguising that. Damn. Oh well.

"Okay. Rinse."

I centered the spray again. For the most part, I could reach the majority of my boy parts. Mike did my back and the armpit and arm that I couldn't get to.

"I'm so sorry."

"I'm fine. Relax."

Relax. Sure. I was hard as a rock. He didn't say anything. He looked at my erection with a simple smile. I was such a loser.

Mike stepped out and moved over to the counter, leaning against it while I finished up. His jeans weren't wet but received a bit of spray here and there.

"Did you ever feel lucky growing up, Lance?" he asked from a few feet away.

"What do you mean?"

"Hello? Huge dick. Did you feel lucky?"

"No. Never. Well, maybe in high school a bit. When I was younger, I wondered if it was weird. I had never seen a guy hard, so I didn't know what everyone was like. I probably just wanted to be like everyone else."

"Hm."

"Actually, I wanted chest hair like you. Do you feel lucky?"

Mike laughed. "No. I would trade my chest hair for your dick in a minute."

"Oh, c'mon. I remember your dick. It's nice."

He laughed again. "Thanks. Some guys shave their chests. I never would do that."

"Thank God. Those guys are insane."

The laughter and silly conversation made me feel better. I made a final rinse and turned the water off.

"You can't do this by yourself."

Mike grabbed the towel. "Stand still." I stepped on the mat, and he began drying me off. My dick had softened a bit, but that made it erect once again. Seeing him rub the towel all over me, I wished I had a guy like that. I pictured Trent doing this to me. I wanted what they had. He leaned down to do one leg at a time. My hard-on could have bit his neck like a snake.

"You good?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said with a mix of embarrassment, arousal and disappointment that it was over.

Mike was silly and gave the head of my cock a childish kiss. "Mwah."

I wasn't expecting that. I giggled.

"That dick," he said.

"It's just a dick," I said back.

I pulled some things from drawers to wear. I lost my footing when stepping into my briefs but managed to start pulling them up. I couldn't get them fully on one handed with my raging boner.

"Gawd," I moaned in my unsuccessful attempts.

"Oh, good grief," Mike said.

He grabbed my cock, slipped it inside the fabric and pulled up the waistband.

"It's no wonder Trent loves you. You are a wonderful person, Michael Terry."

He giggled.

Since I was wearing shorts instead of jeans, that was easy. I could do it myself. He helped get the arm through the T-shirt.

 

I went back to the couch to lie down. It's funny how Mike and I had our own private encounters. All of them were usually awkward. The best was the lake house, I guess.

 

Jakob had just come. Actually the four of us had, but his chest was the messy one. I went to the bathroom to get a towel. I didn't know Mike was out of their bedroom. He opened the bedroom door just as I was leaving the bathroom.

Both of us were naked. We smiled at each other. Mike must have figured out what the towel was for. He winked.

"I totally get taking care of your partner," he whispered. He grabbed my cock. "But this could have been fun. We would have made good on our promise." He kissed me. "Now, go clean up your boyfriend. We're happy you have each other."

I gave him a strong hug. Our cocks pressed into each other. They had never really touched before.

"Happy New Year," I whispered into his ear. "Love you both."

I fondled his cock a second and walked to the bedroom. The months between my car wreck and New Year's Eve were like an eon. We were barely casual friends at the beginning. I had just met him through Trent. Thankfully, as the two of them became deeply committed in their relationship, they didn't push me away. They were supportive, and their acceptance of Jakob was wonderful. I couldn't ask for better friends.

 

Trent always had said he had terrible luck in terms of people walking in at the wrong time. I guess I had a few as well. That wasn't one for sure. Compared to college roommates, bumping into Mike was nothing. I think the comfort level of the four of us that weekend was all over the boards. I'm not sure whether Mike or I was the most comfortable. Since I had the biggest dick, they would probably assume me. It's funny how I didn't really notice the size. I just enjoyed everyone's cocks. Wow. Was that a weird thing to admit? At least I can admit it now. A few years ago, I would have been freaked out. Hell, last year just the thought would have had me grabbing another beer.

My penis was really stiff. I pulled my briefs down a foot to hold it. Less than a minute later I was back asleep.

 

—

 

Both of them called in sick. I asked if they wanted me to stay home, but they insisted I go to work.

When I got back home late in the afternoon, the house smelled disinfected.

"What all have you done?" I asked.

Both of them put on masks as I opened the door. Jakob sent one more spritz of Lysol into the air around them.

"Jeez. It's like a hospital in here."

We chuckled.

"I just don't want you to get sick, angel."

"So the couch again tonight, huh?"

Both of them sounded like they felt up for dinner, so we discussed options. Great Wall won out, so an hour later, I returned back to the apartment with dinner for the three of us. It was nice to hear they were feeling somewhat better.

"I sound bad in the morning," Evan said. "Then my voice gets better later in the day. Then I'll have a coughing fit out of the blue. I hate colds. They are so annoying."

"No nausea, chills or aches or anything?"

"No," they both said.

"Well, it is most likely not the flu then. Keep taking zinc and Vitamin C and whatever lozenges you have. I'll be happy to go get you anything," I offered.

"Mm. I miss curling up to you in bed," Jakob sighed. He looked at Evan. "Sorry. Too much?"

"That?" Evan look dumbfounded. "Don't you remember I came home when you two were fucking your brains out in the bedroom. I think you were announcing it to the block. Curling up in bed is positively mild and sweet."

We laughed.

"I envy you two," Evan said.

"Really? Why?" I asked.

"You are so in love. Kristy and I ... aren't there. Neither of us have said `I love you.' I don't know ... I like her a lot, but we moved forward steps and then just stopped. I don't know. We sure don't have what you two do."

Jakob and I smiled at each other.

"You once told me you had gay friends in college. What were they like?" I asked.

Evan stared off in to space a minute. "Um. Harv and David? Ordinary guys, I guess. I became friends with them before I knew they were gay. They were just nice."

"A couple?" Jakob asked.

"Oh no. NO. They were as different as could be in that regard. Once he could be open with me, David told me about a million different guys he was seeing. I think he just wanted a checklist of guys he was able to sleep with."

"Hm. Sounds a little like Jason," I said.

"Harv wanted to fall in love. He saw a guy for three months. They were great. Nelson was nice, really nice. I'm not sure what caused them to split. It's a shame."

Evan put down his fork. He stared into space. He seemed lost.

"Evan?"

"I'm okay. I just got sort of caught up in remembering. I had all these college friends. I have no idea what they are doing now. I just let them slip away. Why do people do that?"

"People make new friends. They start their lives," Jakob said.

"Yeah. At the time though, those people were important. Why aren't they now?"

"I have to confess I'm a little bit the same. Tariq is the only team player I've seen. Well, Trent, obviously. I've seen Zach on occasion, but I haven't even tried to meet with Cole after graduation. We were roommates the whole senior year. Hm."

That depressed me.

Out of precaution, Jakob and Evan stayed in their bedrooms that evening. I felt a bit lonely. I stared at my phone to see how many teammates I had numbers for.

Like Evan, I had let them slip away. I cared about them enough in school. It made me sad that I didn't think about them now.

One by one, I sent them a text message:

"Hey, it's Lance. I was just thinking about the team. I hope your New Year is starting off great. Call me if you'd ever like to chat."

"Dude! How are you?" John texted back. "Yes. Let's talk. I'm at a stupid thing with my fiancé right now, but let's talk this weekend."

Wow. I didn't even know he was engaged. We really had lost track. Then I realized that none of them knew I was gay. Last year, I would have cowered under a table if they found out. Now I'm happy about it. I felt so lucky that I am in a relationship with Jakob.

My phone rang.

"Hey, Aram. How are you? I'm glad you called."

"I'm glad you texted," he said.

For 20 minutes the two of us talked. We caught up about everything. We reminisced about the team and the final game, missing out on the playoffs. He had lived at home for the rest of last year, but just got an apartment on his own. He was staying in his hometown. He met a girl at a Halloween party. He said it was starting to get more serious. My turn.

"I'm in a committed relationship, too," I said.

"You? You seemed to be dating all the time. If I can be blunt, with your dick you could have a different woman every night."

"It's just a dick," I said. "Uh. Would you be surprised if I said I'm in love?"

"Good for you! What's her name?"

"His name is Jakob."

"Oh. OH! Oh."

"Yeah. Let it sink in."

"Wow, Lance. You're gay? What was with all the girls you dated then?"

"Well, Trent insists I'm bisexual. I guess I am. I was scared to be attracted to men — really scared — but eventually, I knew that is what I wanted. It took me a while to figure it all out. Does this freak you out?"

"Well, it kind of surprises me. I guess. But, no, I'm not freaked out. Just ... wow. Really? Gay, huh?"

"Yeah. And I am so, so, so in love. I've never been happier in my life."

"Well, great then. Speaking of gay men, do you know if Trent stayed with that old guy?"

I laughed.

"What?"

"That old guy is now one of my closest friends. They got engaged over Christmas.

"NO way!"

"They are amazing together. They are such a good fit."

"Even with the age difference?"

"I don't even notice it anymore. They're an awesome couple."

"If you were gay, I'm surprised you two didn't go out."

"That's a whole `nother long story, my friend. If I hadn't been a scared shithead, we would have. Thank heavens we are still best friends."

We talked some more. Aram had heard Coach had broken his arm taking a misstep off the bleachers. Professor Traver was involved in some parental scandal. He told me about his holidays too. We both said as much as we were glad to be done with college, we still missed part of it deep down.

I texted a couple more people.

I got up to get something to drink. Had it been college, I would have blankly gone for a beer. I searched for my favorite flavored water in the fridge. There was one cranberry lime left.

My phone rang in the living room. Good. Who was calling now? I looked and was stunned. It was Randall. From high school.

"Hi, Randall. I know it's a bit into it, but Happy New Year."

"Hi, Lance. Thanks. I guess."

"Everything okay?"

"I don't know." Randall was silent for a long pause.

"What's going on?"

"It's hard to say. Remember when we talked last year?"

"Yeah," I softly returned, remembering the awkward phone call from a few months ago.

"I told you I had thoughts about those high school debate trips. After I heard you came out, my life kind of went off track."

"Uh oh."

"I prayed about it for weeks. I finally came clean to my wife. She knew something was wrong. My faith was sort of in upheaval, but I knew I wanted to be honest. I didn't want to lie. I finally stopped lying to myself."

"And?"

"We're separated right now. I've been job searching this past week. I'm going to be honest with the church. I know they won't let me be youth minister after that. NO WAY. So I want to line something up."

"Big steps. Are you okay?"

"I don't know, Lance. How did you handle it all?"

"Poorly. Back in high school when you and I ... you know, I just told myself we were `fooling around.' I repressed and denied and rejected any idea of me being gay all through college. I was miserable. I developed a drinking problem."

"Wow."

"Now that I am honest, I've never been happier. I can't begin to describe to you how happy I am. For a while, I felt guilty because of it. I had made so many mistakes, I didn't think I deserved it. Randall, you need to tell yourself you deserve to be happy. You can still approach your questions of faith. But ... don't you want to be happy? Aren't you tired of living a lie?"

"Very tired."

"I'm glad you called. I care, okay? You'll be surprised. You're not alone. Millions of people go through what you are going through. It gets better. It's not always perfect, but ... it gets better."

"Thanks, Lance. I don't want to give up my church. I think I will lose a lot of friends though."

"Check around. You will probably find a congregation that is accepting. Make new friends."

"It's scary, Lance."

"Only for a little while. I'm only a half year into ... being myself. Truly, I've never been happier. Remember how good we felt on that trip? And that night at your house? Be you, Randall. Just be you."

"Maybe."

"I'm here if you ever want to talk. In fact, I hope you call frequently."

After he hung up, I felt a sudden interest in going for a master's in psychology. I felt so knowledgeable in counseling. Then thoughts of term papers quickly threw that idea out of my head. I chuckled to myself that I sounded like some authority on homosexuality. But I knew what I had lived through. I knew how hard it was.

 

—

 

Before leaving for work, I went in to check on Jakob. He seemed to be doing better. I told him I loved him as I headed out.

 

—

 

That evening he decided he was going to return to work tomorrow. Next week he would go into that job interview.

He let me share the bed that night.

"I'm better, but I still feel kind of weird about having sex. I'm still probably a little germy. Is it okay if we don't make love?"

"If I can just be next to you, I'll have all the love I need," I told him. I kissed his forehead.

"You are such a romantic."

"I didn't used to be. I guess when you fall in love with the right person, it turns you into one."

We held each other tight. I had missed feeling his body next to mine. It had only been a couple of days, but I loved feeling his skin touching mine. We rolled onto our sides. My arm draped over him, and I felt his chest. My fingers combed through the hair. I felt good. We were in our right places again. I pulled the blanket up to cover us. The softness of it draped over our bodies made the moment blissful. It had only been two night, but I had become accustomed holding him each night. When I didn't have him next to me, something seemed wrong. A few minutes later, we rolled the other way. He wrapped his arm around me. I loved being held. His hand moved down to feel my cock. He squeezed it for a minute. It was instantly hard. He kissed the back of my neck and let go.

We fell asleep within a few minutes.

 

—

 

Five days later I caught a cold.

 

* * * *

 

Look for a blog post discussing this chapter called "The Couch" at timothylane414stories.blogspot.com

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