DANIEL I am sitting in a plane bound for Florida. Kansas was threatening my sanity, I couldn't take it anymore and I know I can't hold on for much longer. Even as I sit in this plane, I try to convince myself that I haven't been a coward for running away the way I am doing like a scared kitten with tails between my legs. My mind keeps telling me I am making a mistake but I don't care. Years of living with OCD has transformed me into a being capable of shutting his own mind out. "Hey Mister, can you please help me hold my kid for a second, I need to use the bathroom. "The not so pretty lady sitting next to me on the flight says to me, thrusting a red squalling baby at me. My first instinct tells me to withdraw from the terrifying sight of the crying baby but I can't do that. 

"Here comes the chicken who ran away. "The familiar voice says with as much disdain as its owner can muster.  "Stan? "I ask surprised "what are you doing here? " "What am I doing here? "Stan fires back "dear lord he seeks to know what my business here is" Stan says throwing his hands up in genuine exasperation.  "I am here to cart you back home, Chicken! " "Daniel, "Uncle Jeremy intervenes since Stan is in no frame of mind for calm conversation.  "Stan Devin, clearly your friend brings news from home for us. I can't believe that you knocked up a woman and came here to hide. " My uncle glares at me.  I am cornered and I know it. I have to fess up. 

Shocked at his expressions. His hair tickled my face, making me chuckle. I cringely avoided his gaze. I wanted to act cool, mature and slightly pissed off for a while, but a chill ran through me when I thought of the tiny, sexy smile he gave me. I simply glanced up at him, his eyes gleaming in amusement as he stood, looming over me. But he wasn't smiling anymore. I gasped in shock.  "Of course baby... I'm doing great! Am I not looking good to you..?" "Really..? If you were, would I be asking..?  His statement didn't sit well with me. I wanted to slap the grin off of his face, but instead I closed my eyes, pretending to be upset.  "Hey baby! Please don't start now, okay. I'm doing just fine..." He said

The brightness of the weather was cool and foggy; the sky had a greyish turquoise tint, like the silt in the buckwheat straw of a wagon. Snow had fallen during the night, and its warm damp was now sticking to the seams of the sea. Not a breath of wind stirred the quiet air. It was very still, but a draft would blow across the street and make a little flurry of feet on the sidewalk.  Completely forgetting about the people who brought me to the beach, I slowly walked around the dense pine trees on the western side of the street, taking stock of the quiet street, my gaze still fixed on him, until I saw him sitting alone, across the narrow gap of a building, with a newspaper spread on his laps. Walking closer to him, I made sure my gaze was planted on his face, hoping not to miss a single moment of him.  As I walked closer, he

"I mean, you're Joey..?" I froze. The heavy electric guitar riff began as a continuation of the last track in my head like the sound of distant thunder. There were a few moments of silence when it sounded like a tune was escaping from the speakers, but finally, the guitar turned into lyrics, and there were no more thoughts to accompany the band. I iced, breathing so heavily with my hands right by my sides, feeling like they were paralized. My entire body trembled from within, and as he saw me so rigidly with my lips slightly parted. "Hey, what's wrong? Did I say anything wrong?" He held me as I was gradually slipping to the ground. Nothing I could answer.  Nothing anyone I could say. He pulled me up, back to my feet. He didn't make me stand. He just grabbed my arm and p