Mike groaned softly as he got out of bed, gut throbbing. He’d been ill for the past month, barely ever leaving his bed. The summer had been warm this season. Little rain meant the harvest would be small. Mike knew the village couldn’t afford an idle hand. Especially if it ate food that could have served another. The illness Mike had couldn’t be healed by the priest, though he’d let his family twice. The priest had been kind and did not charge for the second attempt.
The i

Part 1
“Hey mom, I’m home,” Billy said as he walked into his childhood home, wood creaking with each step. “Where’s Dad? I didn’t see his car in the garage.”
His adopted mother straightened, winced, then called from the kitchen, “He picked up our medicine from the pharmacy, so he’ll be back soon. Please don’t pile everything at the front door. Bring it upstairs. Your father and I can’t use it, so that level is yours when you&rsquo

 Emily waited for Ann to come to her room again, hoping for the best. It had been two days since their first meeting, and she could feel Matthew adjusting to her body. She still couldn’t move without help, but she was getting better. Jillian, her nurse, had told her that things would move rapidly for the first few months and that she shouldn’t stay in bed all day while also making sure not to over-do herself. Emily had laughed at that she’d already over-done herself with Matthew,

Matthew walked up to his sister’s apartment with the two movies he’d rented. He was hopeful as both movies were action thrillers with enough action scenes to keep his attention. His sister would be pleased that one had a little romance. Just a scene where the two main characters starting in on each other, right before the big fight.

She should be willing to watch one of these movies with me and not one of those damned romance movies.

Sixteen
and Unbirthing
Well,
I’m Fucked Up! I’m writing in my journal for the future because
I can’t move right now without hurting my new children and myself.
I know I’m going to have twins and they’re moving a lot right
now,
adding to the difficulty of writing on my side.
Katherine
winced as one of her babies landed a solid blow to the top of her
belly, forcing her to stop writing. She gently rubbed the spot until
the child calmed, then resumed writing in her journal.

But
I’ll