Head Down, 2011 (PDF)

Opening:

Listening to his iPod™, Joseph leaned against a stall in the conference centre’s cafeteria during a five-day business trip in Calgary, watching Bob, his best friend, converse with a young lady. Of medium height, her hair was auburn-blond and she was wearing black capris and an orange shirt with the sleeves rolled up just past her elbows. As far as Joseph could tell, she looked completely at ease, attentively turning her head towards Bob whenever either of them spoke, smiling occasionally as Bob pointed out who the various patrons were...

Excerpt:

"The scent of vanilla filled his lungs. His lips — almost grasping, clinging — seemed unwilling to let go as he pulled away from her cheek.

“Do you want me to go back with you?” Shannon asked.

His lips tightened. He swallowed. He knew it mattered little what he chose – there was only the inescapable truth.  He was never going to see her again and the thought of that filled him with sadness. He touched the back of her neck as they stood facing each other.

When I am with you, the world falls away. I can dream of no greater happiness than melting into your shapely ocean, where we dissolve into faceless, massless beings. Neither facing nor turning from each other. Simply evaporating eternally with you. Disappearing never to be found again. The peace I feel rains down, dazzling upon the rippling skin of humans below. I want you."