Valkyrie

So many story updates! Well done to all groups. I'm still working my way through the antho. There aren't enough hours in the day to read, edit, write, and get any sort of chores done. Good thing I live alone. The cats don't really care if the house is messy for an extra day...

I would love to see this expanded. There are so many things I'm wondering....about the creepy fences, why only teenagers were affected, will the teenagers succumb once they reach a certain age... I thought it was a great sign that Ben laughed at the end. As a speech therapist, the whole communication aspect of the story was fascinating to me. I'd love to see where it goes.

I will admit to having a hard time with the new pronouns, but you used them quite well to show the shift in Angel's feelings and the change in the end to 'him' and 'he'. I loved the ending and how it felt so natural to Angel to go to Imp. I look forward to more.

Interesting start. The title drew me in. I look forward to seeing what's next!

Oh how frustrating! My BP was high when I went for my pre-op testing, but they attributed it to anxiety over the surgery. It was also high when they took my vitals before wheeling me into the surgery room, but said that it was normal for BP to run higher since people are generally nervous about being operated on. I'm sorry you have to deal with such idiots. Fingers crossed they still do the operation!

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to leave a review. I appreciate the comments and am glad you liked the story.

I strive for realism in my writing, even if it means that the story gets pretty messy, so thank you for the compliment. Thanks for reading and leaving a review!

Thanks, Parker. I appreciate the review. I'm glad you liked it.

Thanks so much, Cassie. Queen of Angst... I love it! Yes, the story is bittersweet. I feel for Richard and Lee and hope that they are able to find their own happiness. Thanks for the review!

Thanks, Tim. I think you hit the nail on the head exactly.

Thanks for such a thoughtful review, Tim. Mistakes happen in investigations and I didn't really elaborate on the search process, but it is possible for the police to miss the connection. I feel sorry for Lee and Richard, too. While Jake and Ben ultimately belong together, there was a lot of hurt in the process. I don't think of Jake as a bigamist. He didn't know his identity and didn't know he was already married. The marriage would have been dissolved somehow with his apparent death, although I'm not sure how that would work, exactly. Thanks again for the review.

It's good that Sam and his mother finally found some healing, but I have a hard time with the method. I find it hard to believe that a doctor would so readily take another's life, no matter what the circumstances. "First, do no harm" is an oath that is taken very seriously. The stepdad is a great guy. Good thing he stuck around for so long. Thanks for a thought-provoking story.

The emotion in this piece is palpable. I can understand why he accused Mal of staging the robbery. His world was turned upside down and because of that anything became possible--even betrayal by the one person he should trust the most. I loved the revisions you made. They made the piece even stronger and the use of the stain was very well done. Great job!

How disturbing that this is based on a true story. So sad that the family wanted to commit such a horrible act again. I liked how the 'ghost' felt the tug of need from his nephew. Good job.

You're welcome

Congrats, Defiance! I can't wait to read all the stories. Good thing today's my short day at work. I think I'll head right home and read. Who needs groceries when there's awesome stuff to read?

Skeletal remains found last month in Oak Creek Canyon have been positively identified as Jacob Klein. Although the results of forensic testing were inconclusive, the male remains were judged to be the same approximate age and height as Mr. Klein, who disappeared from the same general area four years ago. Time of death also corresponds to the date Mr. Klein was reported missing. Benjamin Simons, Mr. Klein’s husband, filed a missing persons report after his spouse failed to return from a busin

Ben lost the love of his life ten years ago. On the anniversary of his husband's disappearance, he makes a discovery that shatters two families, but at the same time shows that love will find a way no matter how extraordinary the circumstances.

I love the imagery in the first, especially the 'felted skies'. As for the second, well it's natural to worry, and you're in all our hearts, too.

Yikes! Glad it was sorted out and you are ok now.

Happy Birthday! I hope you had a great day!! I don't know much about you so don't know what kind of cake you'd like, so here is a pretty chocolate strawberry cake.

Great selection! It's nice to see so many authors participating. I look forward to reading them all.

I'm glad you have some answers and a surgery date. I had my gallbladder out ten years ago after suffering symptoms very similar to what you are going through. Mine became infected and inflamed from a lot of gallstones, and I didn't realize those attacks of what I thought were severe gas pains in the middle of the night were really gallbladder flare-ups. I was diagnosed because I went to the doctor for what I thought was the flu. Anyway...I felt loads better after the surgery. As far as diet, you are not consigned to a low-fat diet for the rest of your life because your gallbladder was removed. I tend to eat a low carb/high fat diet (I actually lost close to 100 pounds eating that way, but regained most of it when I stopped) and don't have any issues with it. So don't be afraid to incorporate healthy fats into your diet post-surgery. I'll be thinking of you on the 15th. Update us with your progress when you can!

Well now we have a bit of his background and some understanding as to how he was made into such a callous "business person". It seems his conscience continues to slowly return. He has an idea of how he'd ruined the lives of so many others now. I wonder what he'll do with that feeling...

So we see a glimpse of humanity in our predator. I was wondering how you were going to make him redeemable. Now I see a glimmer of hope for him... faint, but it's there. He still has a long way to go to atone for his sins. I'm still not ready to conjure up much sympathy for him. I'm very interested to see where you take this next.