The wind blew another gust, momentarily increasing the number and angle of drops hitting the surface of the koi pond. The water dripped through his hair and down behind his ears.

“Charlie!”

Each drop made a ripple. Each ripple expanded, encountering other ripples. He could almost grasp at the edges of something. Just another moment. Or ( Read more... )

This feels like a setup. The man is standing there, smiling, pulling a bag out of his pocket and Charlie can’t sway the feeling that his brother is about to burst through the door, followed by Mom and Dad, all three of them shaking their heads and failing to understand, yet again.

He takes a step back and in that instant his mind is made up.

( Read more... )