“Stay with me tonight. Let me hold you even if that’s all it is. Let me keep you safe.”

Did you hear something, nora? Vee asked. I thought i heard something. You definitely heard something, i agreed. Could that be a dog fart i heard? Vee asked me.

Or, if you decide you want to sleep at my place, on opposite sides of my bedroom with a do not cross line drawn down the middle, i’ll do it. I won’t like it, but i’ll do it.

I love you more than i think i should.

The guy i’ve got my eye on happens to be hot. Off-the-charts hot. Hotter-than-patch hot.’ she paused. ‘well maybe not that hot. Nobody’s that hot.

I needed him like i’d never needed anyone.

You smell good, too, said patchit’s called a shower. I was staring straight ahead. When he didn’t answer, i turned sideways. Soap. Shampoo. Hot water.Naked. I know the drill.

He tasted deeper, holding himself over me, and suddenly he was everywhere; his knee trapping my leg, his lips grazing warm, rough, sensuous. He splayed his hand at the small of my back, holding me tightly, driving me to sink my fingers deeper into him, clinging to him as if letting go would mean losing part of myself.

The archangel.” i murmured. Looking back over my shoulder at the ride, which had started its next ascent. “it means high-ranking angel.” there was a definite smugness to his voice. “the higher up, the harder the fall.

Let me show you, he said in my ear. Like this. Feel that? Relax. Now pivot your hipsits all in the hips.

Are you defending marcie? He shook his head. I dont need to. She handled herself. You, on the other hand i pointed at the door. Out.

Did i really want to stay on this road longer, knowing it was only going to end in devastation?

The subjects pulse increased on contact, he said. Dont write that.

Vee: and i’m not going to let you sit at home all afternoon with your sour face on. Nora: i don’t have a sour face. Vee: yes, you do. And you’re wearing it right now. Nora: this is my annoyed face. You woke me up at six in the morning!

I could get you to smile like that, and without sales tax.

My legs are falling asleep, i blurted. It wasnt a total lie. I was experiencing tingling sensations all through my body, legs included. I could solve that. Patchs hands closed on my hips.

Any happiness, no matter how brief, seemed better than the long, simmering torture of waking up day after day, knowing i could never have him.

Surely the wake left behind by mankind’s forward march reveals its movement just as clearly as the spray thrown up elsewhere by the prow.

It’s all part of my journey – I’ve done a lot of stupid things, but you learn by your mistakes.

May we see the Lord in all things-way, truth, and life are all found in knowing Him. May we really meet the Son of God and let Him live in us. Amen.

I’ve been doing musical theater since I was a kid. And look for a CD from me in the future. I want to write all the songs!

God wants to purify our minds until we can bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things.

Avoid running at all times.

Believe that when you come into the presence of God you can have all you came for. You can take it away, and you can use it, for all the power of God is at your disposal in response to your faith.

Nobody knows me – I’m incognito. It’s all new, all fun.