Going Home By Dire Straits Novels & Stories

The flight from Aronespire to Dawnirabay took just an hour and a half, yet as I sat staring out the window, it felt like I was watching half my life flash before my eyes. ... The moment I stepped through the front door of my parents' house, they swarmed me with joy. "Debbie, you're back! Is your work in Aronespire finally finished?" I had never found the courage to tell them about my marriage. For years, I had masked my life there under the guise of a demanding corporate job. "Yeah, it's over. I quit and came home," I murmured, sinking into their warm hugs. Even now, I couldn't bring myself to shatter their happiness with the truth.

His strength was unnerving. “What is you mean?” I swallowed hard, still trembling. “We—we were supposed to have a retreat in Bantayan, but there was a seaquake. Our barge sank. We washed up here.” “You is the telling truth?” “Yes! Please, we’re desperate! We need help! Please, just—” My voice cracked as the weight of everything—everything I’d been holding back—finally crashed over me. The fear. The loss. The exhaustion. I couldn’t hold it together anymore.

She called him relentlessly. "Hey, Zeke?" "I told you. Don't call me anymore!" He treated her poorly. Even though he took the call, he showed no willingness to talk. "Zeke, I'm living here all alone, and it's tough. The apartment is too small, and the food doesn't sit well with me. I miss you so much. Please, let me come back, okay?" "If I recall correctly, your living conditions abroad were far worse than what you have now, Sophie. If you can't handle this, I'll terminate Winifred's services and the apartment lease.

Leslie shot back, "Get out of here. I've got plenty of stamina. I can go three days and three nights straight when I get back. My wife won't suspect a thing." One by one, every man on that bus took a turn with me. By the end, I was completely drained. My legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand. Behind me, the men chattered noisily, their faces full of smug, satisfied grins. "Leslie, you'd better cover your tracks when you get home. Don't let your wife find out." "Oh, shut it. Nothing decent ever comes out of your mouth." The bus lurched and rattled until it finally pulled into the village entrance. The door hissed open.

"I don't want Mom's belongings anymore. I don't care if you sold it. I just want you to come home. So, call me now!" Unfortunately, she received no reply to any of her texts. Her breathing became heavy. She tried to get up but knocked over the glass of water next to her. The glass fell to the ground and shattered into pieces with a crack. Her brow twitched, and she crouched down to pick it up, only to cut her finger on the sharp glass. Blood splattered against the glass, causing her to hiss in pain. Yet, her gaze drifted, seemingly into a daze.

At the same time, she could not help but sneer at her own predicament. "What a cruel life this is," Tang Yazhu muttered as she floated about gloomily. Tang Yazhu had no choice but to subconsciously think, 'Is this truly how I will end? Is this happening because I've killed too many that I don't even have the right to live anymore?' While Tang Yazhu was busy contemplating about the current condition she was in, she heard a loud screeching sound coming right before a "bang!" She looked around to see where the sound came from and saw lots of people circling around. Going a tad bit closer, she understood that there was an accident.

--------- --------------- A week later . . . --------- --------------- Robbie and Natasha were both cranky as hell by the time the Strays arrived at the slaughterhouse. They had gotten a message on Natasha's cell phone on where to go, but then her battery went dead so they couldn't call back. They had returned the car, taken cabs out to the nearest gas station and then hiked back in. Lothar got help carrying the heavy magical jewel all the way. His magical battle had taken a lot out of him. That, and not having ever been to this new Den before, prevented him from teleporting.

"And you go home." ***

“Cailen, honey, please come home. William's freaking out and he won't tell us what's wrong, only that he needs you to come home. Please come home, baby. I love you.” ‘End of final message, to erase all messages, please pres-’ Cailen hung up his phone, going to the contacts to find William's name. He tapped on it and hit call, watching the screen change and was about to put it to his ear when he saw the screen go black. He clicked the home button once and then again repeatedly when it remained black. His phone had died. Of fucking course. William was fucking worried about him, he had to call him and his fucking phone dies.

I need to reign it in before I scare her away. We are driving with the top off my Jeep, wind blowing through our hair and they are both singing the lyrics loudly while dancing in their seats. "I got a river for a soul, and baby you're a boat." It's hilarious and adorable. I have to make myself focus on the road instead of the leggy brunette beside me whose turquoise blue sundress has ridden pretty far up those tan legs of hers. I can't help myself, I need to touch her. So I casually move my right hand to her thigh and give a gentle squeeze before leaving it there. Somehow the physical contact makes listening to One Direction just a little bit less painful.