The truth is, Mathias has been thinking about it for awhile now, even if he's never mentioned it to Veronica. Or anyone, for that matter. After losing so many people -- the latest being Henry, which he can't even bring himself to think about -- he isn't exactly open with his plans for the future with anyone. He knows this isn't healthy, but Henry's ( Read more... )

How Mathias had come away with two dogs was completely beyond him. He liked dogs well enough, so long as they belonged to someone else, mostly due to the fact that he'd been bitten as a child. As a general rule, he preferred cats. They were less needy by far and he found them easier to tolerate and easier to take care of, which was why he had no ( Read more... )

They've been at this for awhile now. More than a year, although there had been a period of several months where Mathias had repeatedly put off all of his sessions, so he's not sure it's fair to say they've been at it the whole time. Despite that, he's sort of embarrassed by how little progress he seems to have made ( Read more... )

Since his talk with Webster, Mathias has been doing a lot of thinking. Not necessarily thinking along the lines he's sure his friend would like him to think, but even this line of thought is a big step in what he hopes is the right direction ( Read more... )

There's the sensation of something ghosting over his cheek and this time Mathias reaches up and crushes it in his fingers, feeling the burning sap leak into the creases of his hands ( Read more... )

There's the sensation of something ghosting over his cheek and, without even opening his eyes, Mathias lifts his fingers to flick it away ( Read more... )

There's the sensation of something ghosting over his cheek and, without even opening his eyes, Mathias lifts his fingers to flick it away ( Read more... )

It's a little early, he knows this, but there's something a little awkward about trying to celebrate an anniversary so close to Valentine's Day. Mathias can be romantic when he wants to, but he isn't one for traditional gestures and so, rather than wait for the anniversary of their first date to approach, he's prepared something now. There's a part ( Read more... )

It's been some time now since Stacy has left the hut and although Mathias still sees her, he feels strangely guilty most of the time and there's nothing he can do to get rid of that. No matter how he rationalizes what's happened, the guilt remains, compounding the rest of the guilt that he lets sit there ( Read more... )

He's still asleep when he hears it. It's a soft sort of noise, not quite like crying and in the midst of waking up, he wonders if it's a bird. Maybe there's a bird outside that's been hurt and it's sitting in the sand, calling quietly for someone to help it. Coming out of a dream -- not a bad dream, but not a good dream either, just the same dream ( Read more... )