I fell into bed and dreamed of Birgit.The rest of the week was pretty much normal. Jennifer was cordial at lunch. I wanted to talk, but knew the timin... was up to her.Friday night I did nothing. Well, I swam, read, and watched TV. I spent some time writing my thoughts from the week into the journal.I went to work on Saturday looking forward to my double-date. I did my usual stuff and at lunchtime I grabbed a sandwich and sat down, facing the back of the deli. I missed Jennifer. We’d had lunch. Carol thought I shouldn’t see the email until I was released from rehab and mobile on my new legs.”“Carol said that she’d recognised you at hospital after your Afghanistan repatriation last year, and that you were bearing my Brian’s name.”“My name, not Mark’s, er ‘Your Brian’s’. I didn’t recognise Carol at the hospital from all those years ago, even after we became lovers, being a doctor.”“Please don’t tell Alex that you’re her real father yet, Brian’ll always be remembered by her as her. ?Her heart rate climbs and a thin layer ofperspiration glimmers across her soft, freckled flesh. ?She grunts and groans her frustrated needthrough clenched teeth.? Her breathing soundsforeign to her. Jeremy draws circlesaround her breasts causing Kate to tremble. ?In turn, her breasts roll and jiggle with hermovements.? ?Damn to be 20 again!? shethinks.Her body is stretched and helpless. ?Somehow, Jeremy has raped her free will andreplaced it with terrible need. ?Histongue and hands dance. Help us seek pure thoughts and act with theintention of helping others.Help us find compassion without empathyoverwhelming us.We seek strength, not to be greater than our brother, or sisterbut to fight our greatest enemy - ourselves.Make us always ready to come to you with clean handsand straight eyes.So when life fades, as the fading sunset, our spirit may come to you without shame.Then we repeat our vows as we each say to each other:"From this day forward I promise you these things.I will.