“He stilled my room, for sure.”

“I look over the back of the chair to make sure he’s still asleep. He is. And he still has an erection. I can’t stay in the room with him like that all night. I’m liable to give myself finger cramps from playing with myself.”

“The refrigerator in my room is still empty as usual, but I can’t hear that sound any more. I feel that I can keep believing…that even the thing all of us were looking for but never found on that day…someday, surely.. We will find it.”

“But we are not what the other one needs, still he is certain that I will find great love in my life someday. He is sure of it. After all, he says, beauty attracts beauty.”

“The sudden silence is horrifying, and it seems to catch my mother off guard. A tiny whimper escapes her, the sound amplified in the stillness. Surely, my father hears her now; surely he and I can't go on pretending she isn't crying.”

“Well,I hope you like the ring." He held it out to me, he velvet lid still closed. "My mom hates it.""I'm sure I'll love it,then," I said, and he laughed.”