Special Thanks to Cheryl for being my co-author & getting the creative juices flowing…this would be going no where without you. To my wonderful beta Gayle, thanks for dusting off those skills. For Teresa, Donna, and Kacie, and everyone who has sent me feedback and encouragement to get this next chapter out. ---~^~--- Chicago, Hotel room #17 Brian awoke to a strangled cry, unaware it was his own. Sweat was cascading down his face, stinging his eyes as it mingled with his tears. The sheets ensnared his limbs as the images of his recent past haunted him. Collapsing back on the rumpled bed, Brian did his best to regulate his ragged breathing. This by far had been the worst dream. He had been revisited by several unforgettable moments of his past with Justin. Life remembered as if on the big screen. New York City, a stolen hotel room, despair overcome by unbridled passion. His young man was being the aggressor and he found it sexy as hell. Letting Justin play with him for a few brief minutes until his primal urges took over and elevated the play to another level. In the blink of an eye, he saw, blue lights, tangled sheets, two naked forms in the preamble of sex. Each desiring the other, yet Justin needed his mentor at the moment. Justin wanted to make a difference; he needed Brian’s help to achieve his task. So he reigned in his physical needs and began to talk. ---~^~^~^~--- “I need your expertise.” “I think I’ve given you plenty.” Giving his lover a playful slap, “Your business expertise. It’s a tough sell, especially at St. James. So say I brought this concept to you at your office, how would you market it?” “It’s 1:30 in the morning, and I’m horny as hell.” Looking at his lover like he is crazy to be asking him this when his cock is obviously hard. A sensuous “Please” contains his brewing juices in his body, while he plots his ‘campaign’. “Okay, you’re the client. Have a seat Mr. Taylor.” Justin, child-like, sits Indian style, with his own growing erection pointing at Brian. “What’s so funny?” “That’s just how I imagine all my clients; I picture them naked.” Standing and pacing the bedroom, “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Okay, so you have this concept, the Gay, Straight, Student, Alliance; let’s all live together, power to the people…that’s boring as shit.” Angelically smiling, “I could take out an ouzi and shoot everyone; that would be exciting.” “Well at least you’d get their attention. Now I have to figure out a way to sell it.” “Right. How?” “The same way you sell everything else…SEX.” Questioningly, “Sex?” “You want to get them in the tent, hand out these.” Pouring condoms over his lover’s head. “Condoms?” “You said it was an alliance, what better way for everyone to CUM together?” Playfully they rekindled the heat of the moment, so they could cum together several times that night. ---~^~^~^~--- This moment of playful fun, fast forwarded to a significant time, when the future of his young lover was teetering in the balance. Willing to sacrifice his own happiness, his own dreams, in a vain attempt to control the uncontrollable, Brian decided to lift the wire, and let some of his emotions slip out to prevent this from happening. His own upbringing allowed him to pursue his dreams and goals with a vengeance, having no one to seriously consider. No one in his immediate family would really care what he did, and those whom he considered his real family, would support him no matter what. But Justin’s life had been the complete antithesis of his own. Up until a few short months ago, Justin had had the unconditional love and support from his family. Even though his father would more than likely have pressed Justin to attend Dartmouth, without the knowledge of his sexuality, he could have been easily swayed to allow Justin to attend PIFA. However, the knowledge of his son’s penchant for men had led to a cascade of events that in Justin’s confused mind he was single-handedly responsible for. Bluntly confronting Justin, Brian unveiled his concern for Justin’s happiness as they danced and loved on the dance floor of Babylon. In the blink of an eye he was no longer on the floor of Babylon, he was in a room full of eighteen year olds, shaking with uncertainty on the inside, but walking toward his destiny. Borrowing Justin from Daphne, Brian led his lover out to the floor. “…baby don’t you know I love you so, can’t you feel it when we touch…” Twirling, a blinding smile, a heart that beats true for the first time. “Did you see their faces?” Laughter, uncertainty, “Ridiculously romantic.” Hope for a future. Fear. Darkness. “No, no, no, no…GOD?” ---~^~^~^~--- Reliving the terror and the panic that surged through him as the bat connected with Justin’s head, Brian glanced over at the alarm clock on the nightstand next to the hotel bed, 6:22 am. When he realized that he was not going to be going back to sleep, he pulled himself up and sat on the side of the bed sliding his hands through his rumpled hair and then resting his face in them. Taking a deep breath he stood, and headed for the shower. Once in the shower Brian’s mind tried to remind him of rivulets of water dancing over hard bodies pressing against each other, lustful caresses bringing alive sensations that would carry them away into sexual oblivion. But he fought them, focusing on each task before him; washing his body. He turned the water off and stepped out onto the towel tossed haphazardly on the floor. He dried his body hastily, so as not to reminisce on how Justin’s gentle touch could bring goose bumps to his skin. Not concerned with the five o’clock shadow that was adorning his face; he dressed in his jeans, placed the blood soaked scarf around his neck, put his denim shirt on over it, then slid on his shoes and prepared to face the day. ---~^~^~^~--- Hotel Restaurant ~ 8:30 am Brian walked into the hotel restaurant hoping to get a halfway decent cup of coffee to jump start his day. He took a seat at the counter, turned the coffee cup over to indicate his purpose, and waited for the waitress to arrive. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the young woman from the night before. He shifted on the stool and noticed she was with a man that was obviously not her father. He guessed he was the man that her father did not approve of. Brian found himself sympathizing with the man and young woman. Craig had treated Justin with the same contempt as Christine’s father. He thought that was her name. Why did these men think that their children didn’t know their own hearts? ---~^~^~--- At the booth behind Brian… “C, maybe we should go back?” Daniel said, feeling guilty for the rift he had created between Christine and her father. “No Daniel! I will not let my father dictate our lives. I have graduated, with honors, and I will be 18 in two weeks. I know where I want to be!” Christine was determined. “But C, what if he is right? What if you change your mind? What if you can’t find a college here in Chicago? What if…” Christine reached over and put her fingers to her boyfriend’s lips and smiled lovingly at him. This was only one of the reasons she loved him. He was always putting her first. This is what she wished her parents would realize. Christine had always been very mature for her age and had nothing in common with the high school boys with whom she attended school. When she met Daniel at a symposium on architecture and design, she felt an immediate connection with him, and it was a returned emotion. They began seeing each other just before Christmas and by spring were in the throes of a relationship that both of them knew could last a lifetime. They complimented each other so well. Daniel was an architect, determined, and at many times a work-a-holic. She on the other hand was more laid back, and let her creativity come to her. She wanted to go to design school for interior design as well as minor in business. With Daniel at her side they would make an amazing team! She just needed to remind him of that. “Daniel, do you love me? Do you want me to be here with you?” “Christine, you know I do! I can’t imagine not having you here. But I don’t want to tear you away from your family either. I know they are important to you.” “Of course they are important to me, but you are even more important to me.” Taking his hand in hers, “Daniel, I knew when I graduated from high school, and went on to college that I would be making a clean break from my family. We are with our parents for only a short amount of time before our lives become our own. My mother and father have always encouraged and supported me, wanted me to achieve my dreams. I know that they are just scared for me, and my father’s behavior confirms that. This is the first time, for the most part, that I have asserted myself, for myself, and not had the same goals my parents had for me. You, my dear, sweet man, are my future, for however long we decide that future to be. Nothing in life is certain, but with all the certainty I have in my heart, I know that with you, wherever you are, is where I need to be.” “Christine, I know this is how you feel now, but…” “NO! Don’t doubt me; don’t question my feelings for you. We’ve talked about this. I am so proud of you! You getting that job at DeStefano and Partners was a dream come true for you. I know you will be successful. And when I get my degree, you and I will be the best team out there. You know I’ve applied to three schools here already. I may have chosen to come here whether you were here or not. Knowing you are here only makes it that much better. My parents are only hung up on the ten year difference in our ages, they will soon forget about that, especially when they see how good we are together.” ---~^~^~--- Back at the counter. “She had the innocence and unmistakable determination that drew him to Justin. So certain about the future, certain he had one. One he should have had, had he not met me,” Brian thought to himself. “Had he not for a brief moment in time, thought that he deserved to be loved and could love in return, that love would not have hurt him. But his foolishness of thought had only confirmed his deep seeded belief that love only caused pain, and this time it had cost a precious life.” Brian continued to berate himself until his thoughts were disturbed. “Would you like anything else besides coffee, hun?” the middle-aged waitress asked with a warm smile. About to decline, Brian decided he better eat something. “Yeah some whole wheat toast, please. Do you happen to have any guava juice?” “Sorry sweetie, we sure don’t. We have pink grapefruit through?” “Okay, that’s fine. I’ll have a glass of that as well.” “Coming right up.” Brian was thankful for the simple, unconscious kindness the waitress had shown to him. He was certain another waitress that he knew as a mother, would probably not have been so kind. He smiled at her as she returned with his juice and toast. ---~^~^~--- The booth… Inside Daniel was beaming with affection and pride. This confident and incredible woman loved him, but that small voice in the back of his head kept his hesitations alive. He knew that he would love her forever, but he couldn’t risk her success and happiness if he didn’t live up to her expectations. “Christine, I love you. I know that you will be incredibly successful, but what if I fail you in your dreams for us. I just couldn’t bear to do that.” Christine started at her lover as if he had grown a second head, or completely lost the one he had. How could he believe that he would fail her? He had graduated top of his class from college and was a well sought after architect; hence his being head-hunted and hired at DeStefano and Partners, a well respected and award winning architecture firm in Chicago. He was loving and compassionate. Did he honestly believe he could fail her? ---~^~^~--- Brian had returned his focus to the young couple, eavesdropping on their conversation. Something in him just snapped as he listened to the young man doubt himself. It reminded him of the time Justin was going to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of his parents’ failing marriage. He just couldn’t allow it to happen again. Dropping some money on the counter, with a generous tip for the kind waitress he approached their table. ---~^~^~--- Christine was about to speak when a stunning, yet sad looking man approached their table. “Excuse me, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I happened to see the altercation between you and your father last night, and I heard most of your conversation just now.” Pausing briefly to see if the couple would tell him to mind his own business, he continued when they didn’t. “I was once in a similar situation as you Daniel. My young lover was, like Christine, certain of the happiness that we could have together. I tried everything to keep him at a distance. His parents were…” Realizing he had just ‘outted’ himself to these people, he surveyed their faces for disgust. “Please, continue. His parents were what?” Christine pressed, having no problem with Brian’s sexuality. Daniel seemed to have none either. Clearing his throat, and believing he was someone else for telling his history with Justin to complete strangers he continued. “His parents were completely against us. Of course they were still dealing with the fact that Justin was gay. Learning that his first lover was 12 years his senior hit them like a ton of bricks. I tried to take him home once and his father would only permit him to come home if he denied who he was and who he loved. I couldn’t allow that so I took him home with me. We were okay for a while, but I was scared for a number of reasons, and gradually began my mission to push him away. I finally succeeded,” Brian said with a strangled sob. Composing himself, Brian squared his shoulders and said, “I guess what I wanted to tell you is, Daniel don’t let your own fears and doubts drown the love you obviously have for Christine, because it is unequivocally clear that you are her heart. Don’t wait until it is too late; grab your life while you can. As Christine so knowledgeably pointed out, nothing in life is certain. You could lose everything within the blink of an eye.” Brian began to turn to leave the restaurant; “Wait,” Christine’s voice stopped him. “What happened with you and Justin?” “I didn’t listen to my heart soon enough and he was taken from me. I hope you two won’t let that happen to you.” Brian again turned and left the restaurant. Daniel got up and went to sit next to Christine. “What are you doing Daniel?” “Grabbing my life.” Brian turned briefly and saw the two young lovers sitting side by side in a strong embrace. He smiled sadly and began to walk down the street. ---~^~^~^~--- Hallway outside Justin’s hospital room… “Deb, I can’t thank you and Vic enough for letting Molly stay with you. She knows to be on her best behavior, and to help out whenever she can,” Jen said wondering where she had gone wrong as a mother. Why was it that she was unable to protect and care for her children? Deb sensing Jennifer’s sudden drop in confidence, set forth to put her straight. “Jen, we are more than willing to help you out. You need to be here for Justin right now, and you are ensuring that Molly is being well looked after. You are doing what any loving mother would do during the circumstances.” “Then why do I feel like I’m losing Justin and abandoning Molly?” Jen asked anguish in her voice. “Jennifer, sweetie, you have been through so much in the past few months. You’ve learned that your son was gay, and that the man he loves is twelve years his senior. You’ve had to accept that the man you married isn’t everything you thought him to be. You are just starting out in a new career, and now your son is lying in that bed in there fighting for his life. It’s not surprising that you are feeling like you have failed, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Both of your children know you love them and would do whatever you could to ensure their happiness.” “Thank you Debbie. I guess I just feel so helpless. I have been trying to do so much and I never realized how overwhelmed I was feeling. Your words mean a great deal to me. I look up to you. You are quite a woman, and I only hope I can be as good a parent as you.” “Oh Jennifer, you already are a great parent! I thank you so much for feeling I am too. Let’s just face it, we are both strong women who have and will do everything for our families that we can. We may not always be right, but we always have out hearts in the right place.” The women smiled at each other and sat a moment in silence. While they were sitting, the elevator chimed announcing Molly’s arrival. Peggy Robinson stepped off with Molly, noticing Jennifer sitting down the hall. Molly saw her mother and immediately ran to her. “Mom!” Molly clutched tightly to her mother as if she hadn’t seen her forever. Jennifer held Molly securely in her arms, thankful that she was safe. Pulling slightly away Jennifer acknowledged Peggy. “Hello Peggy. Thank you for taking care of Molly for me.” “No problem Jen. She was fine. She even helped make breakfast this morning and did up the dishes. She’s such a great kid,” Peggy said. Jennifer beamed thinking maybe she was overreacting about not being a good mother. “Peggy, this is my good friend Debbie Novotny. Justin has been staying with her, and Molly will be staying with her and her brother for a few days until Justin improves.” “It’s nice to meet you Debbie.” “You too Peggy.” Debbie replied shaking Peggy’s hand. “Vic was busy when I left fixing up Justin’s room for Molly. He was trying to make it as ‘girly’ as possible.” All three women smiled. “Mom, Vic doesn’t need to go to all that trouble; I’ll be fine however the room looks.” Molly interrupted, reminding the women she was there. “Oh Molly, Vic enjoys it. He is really looking forward to having you stay with us.” Deb told Molly. “I’m looking forward to spending some time with him and you Deb. Justin always said he felt just as at home with you and Vic as he did with Mom and Dad.” Molly said looking at her mother, hoping that she didn’t upset her. When Jen gave her a reassuring smile she felt much better. “Jen, how is Justin doing?” Peggy asked hesitantly. “Well he has stabilized over the past few hours. His blood pressure looks to be staying within normal limits, but he is still in a coma. They can’t say how long he will remain in it.” “I’m so sorry Jen. Is there anything else I can do?” “Thank you Peggy. I appreciate your offer, and I may think of something, but for now, just keep him in your thoughts.” “I will Jen, and please don’t hesitate to call if you think of anything you need; even if it is just to bring you something from the house.” Peggy replied, as she stepped toward Jen, gave her a hug, and took her leave. “Thank you for bringing me Mrs. Robinson.” Molly shouted as Peggy waited to the elevator. “You’re welcome, Molly.” Peggy replied as the elevator door closed. “Mom, can I see Justin now?” “Of course sweetheart. Do you want me to come in with you?” “No, I’d rather go by myself. Is that okay?” “Yes. His room is right through that door.” Jen pointed across the hall. Jen watched proudly as Molly walked toward her brother’s room. She didn’t know how Molly would react to Justin’s condition, but wanted Molly to know that she felt she was old enough to deal with this. She would be there if Molly had any questions. ---~^~^~^~--- Inside Justin’s room… As Molly pushed open the door to Justin’s room, she wasn’t sure what she would see. The last time she had seen Justin he was just as she had always remembered him. He was teasing her, picking on her, with his glorious smile shining bright. She jumped as the door shut behind her and she got her first look at her brother. He was ghostly pale, his eyes haloed with varying shades of purple and blue. There were small speckles of red seeping through the stark white bandage wrapped around Justin’s forehead. A machine was breathing for him, and bags of fluid were dripping slowly into her brother. A slow, constant beep could be heard echoing through the room indicating that there was still a spark of life left in her brother. She approached cautiously, fearful that she would harm him in some way if she was too close. This couldn’t be Justin. He was always so full of life, and mischief. How could someone do this to him? Molly found her fear turning to anger at the thought of someone hurting Justin. Yes she and Justin had driven each other crazy at times, but she knew without a doubt, that if she needed her brother he would be there for her no questions asked. What would she do if he was no longer there? Her best friend was an only child and there were times when she wished she was an only child too, but in her heart she would never want to lose Justin. Her thoughts were interrupted when a nurse came in. “Do you need me to leave?” Molly asked, not wanting to be in the way. “No you don’t need to go. I’m just checking his blood pressure and making sure his IV is still okay,” the nurse replied. “Will he be okay?” Molly needed some reassurance. “I really can’t say, but he seems to be much more stable, which is a good thing.” “Is he sleeping so much so that he will get better?” “Yes he is. His body needs time to heal and it can do that better if he is asleep.” The nurse smiled at the smart, sweet little girl. “Is it okay if I sit next to him? I don’t want to hurt him.” “It is certainly okay for you to sit with him. You can even hold his hand if you want. His IV’s are in his other hand, so you won’t hurt him. You might even help him. It’s important for him to know that those who love him are close by.” “Thank you. I wasn’t sure if I would harm him or not.” “Well, I’ll leave you two alone now. Talk to him sweetie, it helps.” The nurse smiled one last time at Molly, and left the room. Molly pulled up a chair and sat down next to Justin. She reached out and clasped his hand. It was warm, which belied the appearance of his skin. The nurse told her to talk to him, that it might help. She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t ask questions because she would receive no answers. She sat silently then began to speak. “Hi Jus, I think this is the first time I get to talk to you and you can’t interrupt me. The nurse said I should talk to you, that it may help if you know people who love you are around. I know I never said it very much, but I do love you Justin.” Molly stopped to see if her brother would open his eyes and tell her she was full of it, but there was no change. Sighing she continued. “School is going okay. I got an A on my last science test. Mom put it up on the fridge. We are going on a field trip to the Warhol museum for art class next week. I was hoping you would have gone with me. Mr. Braden’s explanations of the art are always awful! Kristen wanted you to come too; she still has a crush on you.” “Guess what? I’m going to be staying with Debbie and Vic for the next few days. Mom needs to stay with you so she asked them if I could stay with them. Vic will be taking me to school and then I get to go to Kristen’s for a few hours until her mom gets home and then Mrs. Carson will bring me back to the Novotny’s house. Vic is fixing up your room for me. Making it more “girly” as Debbie put it. I’m going to be invading your room; I hope it won’t be as messy as your room at home always was. Don’t worry; I won’t snoop, well not a lot anyway. I’m sure that Vic put away all your important, keep away from Molly, stuff out of reach.” She squeezed Justin’s hand and turned more serious. “Justin, I’m worried about mom. The house finally sold, so she is busy looking for a new place for us to live. She seems to like her new job at the real estate office, and that definitely helps on finding a new place, but now you are here and she can’t worry about those things. I am doing my best not to get in her way, and to help as much as I can, but there are some things I just can’t do.” Her voice was becoming strained. “Dad only pays attention to me when he wants to get something over on mom. They were arguing about you again last week. I don’t understand everything that they are saying, but it bothers me that Dad would stop loving you just because you love someone he doesn’t approve of. Mom explained to me that you love boys instead of girls, which I know means you are gay, and I don’t really care one way or another. I’m just worried, that Dad will stop loving me, because I still love you and want to be in your life.” Molly was now crying. “Justin you have to be alright! Everybody needs you. I need you. Who will be there to terrorize me on my first date, and defend me if my date gets fresh with me? Who will teach me all the cool things to do when I get to high school? Who will teach me to drive?” Trying to calm herself a little she said, “Mom and Dad sure can’t! I’d be driving like an old lady if they did.” Molly whispered, “Who will call me Mollusk?” She laid her head down on Justin’s bed, holding his hand, quietly pleading that he would wake up. ---~^~^~^~--- Chicago, Grant Park… Brian was walking along Lake Michigan, down Lake Shore Drive. He felt oddly good about what he had said to the young couple in the diner earlier that morning. He slowly spun around taking in his surroundings. The Sears Tower loomed in the distance, the lushness of Grant Park shimmered in the early afternoon sun, and he noticed a small billboard advertising the Chicago Jazz Festival next to a bench under a tall oak tree. He crossed the street and rested his weary mind and body on the bench. Being outside on a clear, sunny, ‘perfect’ day seemed unfair. Justin should be with him. His mother always said he would go to hell, but he never thought he would find hell on earth…but he did. Leaning back staring at the sky that paled in color to the blue of his lover’s eyes he asked, “Why can’t I have him back? Am I that bad, that he had to be taken from me? He was what made me good, making me better.” He closed his eyes hoping that some answer would come, but he was disappointed. Sitting a few feet away, unseen by Brian, a young man in tattered jeans and an old John Deere t-shirt began to play his acoustic guitar and started to sing… “Hey God I just lost a dear old friend, Hey God I hope he’s in your angel band, Hey God you know he believed in you, Just help me understand why you do the things you do” Brian looked up and searched for the singer. Finding him behind him sitting on the grass he wished he could have an answer to that question too. “Hey God send me down some comfort please, Hey God I’ll be down here on my knees, Hey God will we ever comprehend, The forgiveness and grace that lies waiting in the end” “Oh there’s anger and tears, For all of the years that your children won’t have you to hold, Oh my heart has broken, The angels have spoken still I wish I could watch you grow old” Brian’s mind flashed forward, realizing that Justin would never grow old. He would remain forever young. A desire he had wanted for himself, and was willing to act out just days before. Angry tears began to roll down his face, thinking that it should be him that is no longer walking this earth. Justin still had so much to give. It wasn’t fair! “Hey God I know he didn’t die alone, Hey God tell my old friend welcome home, Hey God please hear me when I pray, Pray for a little peace ‘til we meet again someday, Pray for a little peace ‘til we meet again someday.” As the young man hummed the melody to a soft ending, Brian irately wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up to leave the park. Turning to the left he noticed the beautiful architecture of The Art Institute of Chicago. Justin would have loved to have seen it. He unconsciously began to walk toward the entrance. If Justin couldn’t see it he would see it for him. He stepped through the main door and instantly noticed a sign for an exhibit of pencil sketches by various artists. He immediately went to the hall that housed the works. He looked at all the drawings and knew that Justin would have had his work hanging in great museums. He came around a partition and saw a drawing that took his breath away. It showed too men, one tall, one shorter. The taller man had his arm around the other, and the shorter rested his head on his shoulder. Brian closed his eyes and immediately he was standing in Deb’s yard shot-gunning Justin with his joint, after the great rally at St. James academy with Senator Baxter. But what really haunted him were the whispered words Justin had spoken to him… “As long as I have you to protect me.” Brian stared vacantly at the drawing with fresh tears once again painting streaks on his face. “But I didn’t protect you Justin. I let you down. I never should have come to the prom. If I hadn’t you would still be here. You could be amazing people with your talent. You could be giving me the love that I tried to push away. The love I so want right now.” Brian continued to stare through the drawing as he blindly found a bench to sit on. As the minutes passed Brian’s mind became as empty as a blank canvas. He couldn’t think anymore. He just wanted his memories to leave him. A volunteer at the museum noticed the drying tears on Brian’s face, and approached him with a concerned look on his face. “Sir? Sir?” The older man attempted to get Brian’s attention. “Sir, are you okay?” Realizing someone was speaking to him, Brian turned to face the man, still housing the empty look on his face. Once again the man tried to shake Brian out of his self-induced haze. “Is there anything I can do for you sir? Someone I can call?” “No, no one.” Brian said with a defeated voice. “Are you sure? You have been sitting here for about 30 minutes just staring at this drawing. Not that that is unusual in a museum, but you had such a lost look in your eyes.” “Yes, I’m sure. No one will be missing me. I better be going. Thank you for your concern. Concern for strangers is somewhat rare these days.” Brian gave the man a weak smile and headed for the exit. The old man watched as the handsome, lonely man left. He wondered why he believed that no one would miss him. Approaching the exit, Brian noticed a small gift shop. He decided to stop and see what they had. He wanted to keep a reminder of his trip for himself. Maybe someday, if he had the courage, he would return to Pittsburgh and share it with his lost lover. He needed something small. He began to survey the selection of postcards that were available. He saw one that was an abstract of a mother and child. He hadn’t said anything to Jennifer before he left. He knew better than to expect her forgiveness or understanding, but he needed to contact her. He picked it up and continued his search. As he went to the next rack of cards he found one that showed a replica of the sketch that he had been so lost in. He grabbed it and headed to the register. Paying for his purchase he headed out to return to the hotel. He would collect his things and be on his way. The last thing he did before checking out was to write his message to Jennifer. “I’m so sorry I took him from you.” He didn’t sign it. He knew she would know who it was from. He addressed it, and placed a stamp on it. He approached the counter and the young woman behind it. “I’m checking out.” Brian said “How was your stay sir?” “Just fine.” “Well you have no extra charges, is there anything else I can do for you?” “Could you see that this gets mailed please?” “Certainly.” “Thank you.” “You’re welcome. Have a nice day.” Brian didn’t respond.