Cruel World(153)

“Can I clean them?” Ty asked, picking up the stringer.

“Absolutely; less work for me. Don’t cut yourself.”

“I won’t. Here Denver!” The great German Shepherd rose from the bed on the rear deck of the lodge and trotted to the boy, the hobble in his hind leg barely noticeable. Ty grabbed the bar of the upraised collar Quinn had designed, and the dog lead him in the direction of the fish-cleaning shack farther down the shoreline. Quinn watched them go, something tightening in his chest at the sight of them walking away.

The sun was beginning to slide behind the tall trees that lined the bank, casting fire across the water in undulating waves. He moved down to the lake’s edge, walking out onto the dock that jutted into the cold water. He stood there for a long time, looking across the lake, the land he knew was there unseen. He closed his eyes, and for a moment, he was back, listening to the water rush against rock, the breeze caressing his face, the ocean before him.

He heard her approach and only opened his eyes after she’d slipped an arm around his waist.

“What are you doing out here?” Alice asked.

“Dreaming dreams.”

“Are they good ones?”

“Not as good as the one I’m living.”

The whole world was quiet save for their breathing, the lake’s eternal movement, the sun’s descent. She glanced up at him.

“You’re reliving it all again, aren’t you.” When he didn’t reply she continued. “Honey, stop. You have to quit this,” she said, guiding his head down to hers. She kissed him, held his face in her hands. “Your father loved you beyond anything.”

“And it destroyed the world,” Quinn said, swallowing. “Because of how I am.”

“It’s not your fault. After all the times we’ve discussed it, after what you’ve put yourself through, you know you couldn’t have done anything different, you know that.”

“It doesn’t change anything.”

“Listen to me. You brought us here. You made a life for us. We wouldn’t have survived without you.”

“You would have been fine. You’re the toughest person I’ve ever met.”

“No, I’m not. The boy in that little shack over there is, but he wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you.” She brought her lips to his again and then gazed into his eyes, looking from one to the other. “Remember what you told me a long time ago? About hope being stronger than anything?”

He nodded.

She brought his hands down to the slight swell of her belly.

“I haven’t forgotten.”





Author’s Note



As always, thanks so much for reading. I appreciate you coming along on yet another journey. I hope the ride was as fulfilling for you as it was for me to create.

The idea for Cruel World was born of an image that came to me out of the blue some time ago of a boy sitting with his father in a room full of books. The boy was afflicted with a deformity that kept him from doing all the typical things that someone his age would have partaken in. He did not go to school, he didn’t play with other kids, he had no one besides his doting father who wanted only to protect him from the cruelty outside their walls. The original title I had for this story was The Bookseller’s Son.

What evolved from there became Cruel World. Of course my singular idea transformed into something frightening and thrilling as is the nature of my contemplation. I wanted to know how someone who was cut off from the outside world, someone dubbed as a physical ‘monster’, would deal with being released from his sanctuary/prison into a world filled with real monsters, both human and not.

I have unending respect for the resiliency of those who suffer from some type of physical or mental disability, and hope that I conveyed my admiration throughout the book. Those of us who are blessed with healthy bodies and mental abilities should reflect more upon the notion of lacking such traits that are often taken for granted. The suffering that many endure goes unnoticed at times, and just by realizing how fortunate many of us are would go a long way in the extension of kindness and empathy.

Once again, I hope you’ve enjoyed the book, and if you have feedback, I would love to hear from you in the form of a review, an email, or by reaching out via social media. Thank you for your company and I hope to have a new place for us to go soon if you’re up for the ride.