Not My Kids, Not My Life

mmed, a dull counterpoint to t

row bed, his breath shallow, sk

smelled of antis

ght, but felt a

gone. Died

was a rasp, but her words

st triumphant smile on her lips. "The childr

his mind refus

nued, her eyes glinting. "Ric

despised. The man she supp

ire lif

hen Service Manager at Metro Motors,

d stayed, chasing promotions he didn't get, while

him emotional

d Sarah, the ones he' d ra

ion, after her funeral,

s assets, carefully

lace. They n

Regret was a bitte

could do it over. Know

, ragge

kne

, no

nnoying

Up" by Rick Astley bla

s eyes sn

in the nu

a table in front of him held a half-ea

e knew it instantly. The smell o

. He held

g fingers. No live

face. No wrinkl

ng the coffee. It splas

ely fe

the wall, a cheesy picture

e 1

around today' s dat

7th,

ison would announce t

on. The promotion that cemented Brenda' s

as b

as y

d a c

he breakroom

a wal

fectly coiffed, her blue eyes, which he once th

, her voice sweet, the same sweetn

o make his decision soon

her. The woman who

cing a hand on his arm. "Maybe you should talk to M

pressure, the start

ou know he' s done so much f

eezed h

er for everyone.

The same one sh

asn't the

ael knew