#thomas glave

The world, a good deal of it, sundered, scorched. The world that in spite of every choking feeling and the hands that want to pull you down to drown, come down to drown, remains yours and mine. Ours. That world, not yet finished, and still vital. Still here.

Thinking that it was, yes, Mama, like he couldn't even taste or feel Ricky in that private place inside him anymore, Then take me now, Lord, or the water and the reeds, and wash me, Jesus, or the sand and the soft soft grasses, and O shall come on a cloud descending, but could only sense that big new bitter taste, that one, inside every part of him that he knew he shared with the one who knew it all and had been all up inside it and back around....

Once somebody gave up their soul to you, he thought, you could always go back to that part of them where it was safe.