“People can lose their lives in libraries. They ought to be warned.”
~ Saul Bellow ~
Spotlight
The editors of "Loving You To Death" would like you to know that the last thing your sweetheart sees before you murder him is you. That’s right, those little things you do, the stroking of his cheek, the tussling of his hair, letting him have that last TwizzlerTM, are the sort of things he’s going to remember for the rest of his life. So before you slit his throat, shoot him in the chest, poison his coffee, feed him lutefisk, inject him with cyanide, or throw him in a trash compacter–your choice, it’s a free country–fill his final moments with tenderness.
Be sure to say, “I love you,” one more time before you plunge that ice pick into his brain. For sure as shootin’, you can’t tell him after he’s gone. Besides, you can take that Twizzler from his hands once he’s dead. Don’t wait too long, though. Rigor mortis will set in and you won’t be able to open his hand. You’ll have to go to the store for more Twizzlers and trust me, you’ll be in a bad mood. You might even flip off the other drivers and why not, you’ve lost the love of your life. Read. Enjoy. Sleep with one eye open |
Excerpt
The Dutiful Wife
Dovey Mayali Cralk
I finished straightening my husband's pajamas and combing his hair. Looked like he'd be staying in bed again, today.
Picking up his hand and buffing his nails, I gently chided, "See, honey? I told you I do could better. You really didn't need to hit me all the time!" I didn't want to anger him again, but I needed him to know his violence had to end. I almost died after the last beating, after all.
I carefully prodded the bullet hole in his forehead. "Hm. This isn't healing, but it's not infected, either, so I don't think we need to bother the doctor with it, do you?" He didn't answer, just kept on staring at me with that blank look on his face. I took that as an agreement.
Kissing his cool cheek and tucking him back in under the blankets, mildly concerned about how cold he’d been the last few days, I left the room to prepare yet another meal I suspected he wouldn't eat.