This is so intense with baked in rage needing an outlet until this I think.. ". "When you started, did you ever think that you would do so much for so many people?”
Like a slim blade, her words slipped between his ribs and stayed."
Phew! At one point I had to stop reading because I was apprehensive about where it was about to go. Should know better by now - that you wouldn’t take it anywhere I wouldn’t want to go…
“He couldn’t blame her, but the hurt of it had always sat like a roiling ball of bitterness at the base of his spine. Never could quite straighten up his posture, after that.” So much to love about this POWERFUL installment! This image really got to me -- the physical burden of grief. Exceptional writing, SE!
Nicely done. I did misread “the blade she slipped between his ribs” as literal on the first pass, thinking the story took a much different turn, then I remembered the metaphor. Much different tone, that
i guessed he would shoot himself... but surely its a perfect ending for the story, right there? (Like it was at the end of chapter 2 a perfect end for the story - a different story but still great @ 2/7ths done-) im now wondering where else it can go!
Oh, my heart. The payoff of the title, the empty and full and empty and full again -- and the last line, where Burgess AND Paul go home. And it's home for both of them. <3
Love this. All the sensory details, the conflicting emotions and the arcs of each character coming together. I was eagerly waiting to read this installment and it was worth the wait. Thank you.
This is so intense with baked in rage needing an outlet until this I think.. ". "When you started, did you ever think that you would do so much for so many people?”
Like a slim blade, her words slipped between his ribs and stayed."
...his undoing!
yep... that's a beautiful line isn't it!
So. Many. Feels. 😭😭😭
Anger is lake of coldest fire
Forgiveness a balm on the pyre
Can forgiveness ever be gained?
Can a father forgive the killer of his son?
Phew! At one point I had to stop reading because I was apprehensive about where it was about to go. Should know better by now - that you wouldn’t take it anywhere I wouldn’t want to go…
“He couldn’t blame her, but the hurt of it had always sat like a roiling ball of bitterness at the base of his spine. Never could quite straighten up his posture, after that.” So much to love about this POWERFUL installment! This image really got to me -- the physical burden of grief. Exceptional writing, SE!
💯👌
Nicely done. I did misread “the blade she slipped between his ribs” as literal on the first pass, thinking the story took a much different turn, then I remembered the metaphor. Much different tone, that
i guessed he would shoot himself... but surely its a perfect ending for the story, right there? (Like it was at the end of chapter 2 a perfect end for the story - a different story but still great @ 2/7ths done-) im now wondering where else it can go!
Oh *man*. I felt like I was there. Well done.
Oh damn, you made me cry. Looking forward to the finale.
So…cathartic. Burgess just purged himself of a poison. Can’t wait for the finale. This is a fabulous story!
Fantastic! I can’t wait for the resolution to this wonderful story.
Oh, my heart. The payoff of the title, the empty and full and empty and full again -- and the last line, where Burgess AND Paul go home. And it's home for both of them. <3
Love this. All the sensory details, the conflicting emotions and the arcs of each character coming together. I was eagerly waiting to read this installment and it was worth the wait. Thank you.
Gees louise what a beautiful read!!
This was amazing. Well done.
whew