I went out for pizza which I brought back for my dinner. I ate alone in my room, and refrigerated the half of the pizza that was left. With dinner com...leted, I went to the lounge for my walk through. I also stopped for my one beer. I sat looking around while I drank it...Since I didn't see Monk, I asked Sarah, "Do you know where Monk is." No honey, I have no idea," she said."Someone said he had kids," I said."Yeah, somewhere down east, I think," she said.Well he is a big boy, I thought. He was. In the still air that welcomes dawn, stray dogs pad the pavement sniffing at traces laid earlier adding their stain against the soft stone plinth etched from years of abuse and neglect eventually to crumble like the metal sheet of the courtyard door, now a filigree of rust at its extremities ravaged by canine and weather. A column of ants march through an opening between hastily erected bricks feasting on the dead carcase of a bird or rodent within, extracting sustenance from the sweetness of. .. , I don't know, I like that you look out for me. Even last night as I worried about possible damage to my career, I still liked that you were there for me. I realized that, right now, being with you is more important to me that what I do. I just want someone to treat me like I'm a person. I'm tired of everyone looking at me like I'm a dollar sign or a rung on a ladder or a notch on their bedpost. I want someone who looks at me like you do."She leaned against the vanity for a moment, looking. "What?" they heard her say.Jake and Béla walked in the shadows for a moment. She stopped and turned around to say something. Jake pulled her to him and kissed her, ignoring the blood of her victims on her face, breasts and belly."I don't ever want to lose you," he told her."That's rather selfish of you, isn't it?" Béla asked, breathing into his mouth as they kissed again.Jake stopped kissing her and held her face with his hands. "I was listening to you tell Frank what it's been like for you –.