I was watching the news and one piece made me cry. I vowed that I will never work on anything for Myanmar (formerly Burma) again, unless it is an aid project. It shames me that I didn't question my own actions and my employer's actions before.

CHAPTER 83
Alice’s appointment duly came, and despite my misgivings I made time to go along with her. If I was being told off for interfering, I could still offer moral support by my presence.

Author's note: in this little story there is the brief recollection of a suicide attempt. But as you will be able to tell, it works out okay. I hope you like it. As always, comments are appreciated.

A Safe Place

Tina looked at herself in her wedding gown, and tried to hide her nervousness. She could hear the voices from her past, calling her the names she heard so often as a child.

CHAPTER 82
Tony was back late, sliding into bed with me just before midnight after some reheated toads and instant gravy. I was quiet for a while, but couldn’t help hugging him fiercely as he lay beside me.

Bridges 14

Chapter 14

So…

What the hell should I do? I…I break the kiss with Brandon.

“Brandon, Brandon….I…I…can’t, I can’t get as involved as we were getting okay? It’s not good for me right now. And…and I’ve kind of…no...That’s not fair; I’ve gotten involved with Cass.”

I can’t help but to step back a little and hang my head, he’s been so great. He doesn’t deserve my bullshit.
“I know.”

WTF? “Huh?”

“He knows.” Cass says that as she walks up to me and slips a hand around my waist.

CHAPTER 76
So, off we went in a little armada of cars to the site of my rebirth, where Tony had reappeared that first time to bring me my second family, second life.

CHAPTER 75
Back to the grind it was for a week, and then we were off to the Registry Office for the first wedding.

CHAPTER 73
The day finally came for our little excursion and we loaded up the car with bikes, tents and all the usual impedimenta.

CHAPTER 71
This was starting to get silly. I had dug myself into a hole, it seemed, where almost everyone around me was pair-bonding, breeding, marrying or just worrying about religious affiliations.

CHAPTER 69
I cycled round to Alice’s place with Jim the next day, partly to see Alice, but mostly to have a word with my uncle, to see where he was headed in his mind.

CHAPTER 68
I was tired, in that state where your eyes seem displaced to the back of your skull, looking out through long tunnels that feel soaked in vinegar.

CHAPTER 65
Monday morning was another delivery day, so it was all hands to the pumps, apart from Andy. Despite his sudden advances into being human, he still had a blind spot about the quantity of work the new stock entailed.

CHAPTER 64
When we got back from France, I had a phone call.

“Sh’mae, Sar, beth wyt ti’n ‘neud penwythnos nesa?”

The round peg really doesn’t belong in the square hole —
even if it fits.

Tanner finally reaches the location of the next doctor and I just go along for the ride. Obviously Tanner and this guy have some old history because Tanner is grimacing and his unease is spilling over onto me. We have gone from supportive and happy to angry and cynical.