#darkpulp

2019. “Can we talk?” Kristen said quietly when they got to the register. She wasn’t holding eye contact with Gracie. “Yeah, sure,” said Gracie. She turned to Brianna, “You cool with that?” “Of course, go on. Go on.” They went out back to the back alley, and before Gracie could ask how Kristen was, she said, in a quaking voice, “He’s gone.” “Okay,” said Gracie. To her, that was a damn…

1969. Tommy waited until Shirley said she was done eating to rise from his chair, pull a small box from his pocket, and present it to her, on his knees. She squealed in delight and threw her arms around him, shedding and wiping away tears. Then, after they cleared the dinner table of his small apartment and washed and put the dishes away, they retired to bed, calmly and quietly.  As she lay…