”“ ... very good, Mister Burksen.” The ghoul nodded, adjusted his tie, and stepped into the cathedral.The nave of the huge building. Majesty and...powerful elegance, it pulled at his memories and made his insides ache for the comfort of what used to be certainty, what used to be the simple joy of trusting someone else to guide your life. Candles were usually lit, back when he visited the cathedral when Lucas used it. And he saw such candles still existed, but were not lit. He knew Maria slept. We began mutually masturbating on the phone on nights her boyfriend wasn't home. The flirting continued at work...Then one Friday evening, Danielle and I were working late on quarterly reports. Everyone had gone home. That day Danielle wasn't her usual self. She seemed upset about something, I didn't push the issue. An hour after the others had left. Danielle broke down. I wasn't sure what to do and it made me feel awkward. I put my arm around her, to consol her, and she cringed. I pulled away. Pulaski?" a soft feminine voice asked."This is Johnny Pulaski," I acknowledged."Oh, hi, this is Kayla Thorpe, you saved my daughter and me in the park today. I got your name from the police and your father gave me your cell number. I hope you don't mind me calling. I don't know how I could ever th-th-thank you enough," she managed to say as she broke down in sobs."You just did," I said soothingly. "How's your little girl?"She had regained her composure somewhat, "Emma's fine. It happened so. One male stumbledout of the gate and was greeted with a series of kicks from a coterieof particularly brutal women. They seemed to be the girlfriends of theCuban mob and their animosity towards this hapless male, this non-citizen who dared to inflame their men's senses, was evident. Apolicewoman had to rescue the male from certain genital damage; suchwas the nature of the women's assault.The heat, the sun, the excited sheers, the cries of fear, the sweatingand glistening bodies of the beautiful.