"You need to call Cindy. She needs it as much as I did. You're slacking on your friends-with-benefits duties. I mean seriously, you go jet setting all... over the country. Then you lounge around in a hospital for a week. We have needs. Get your act together, buster." You both have my number, and know where I live. It's not like I have been hiding from you."She patted my cheek."Settle down, we were waiting for you to get better. Greg told us that you were still recovering."Thanks big brother.. They were both happy to have been included into mom’s group. They were also happy that their daughters were included too. They had been having trouble getting their daughters to spend more time with them and realized that sex was the answer.Both girls had been far too curious about sex lately and neither mother knew what to do about it. They had decided that giving their daughters more time together might be the answer. It seemed to help out a little bit but not as much as they had hoped. Then. Moments later, heentered the room. In a very casual manner, he said, "Hi, sweetheart." Hi dad." replied Mel, who felt totally confused by his dad'sgreeting. He must be working to hard, thought Mel. Why else wouldhe call him sweetheart."I didn't expect to find you here tonight." said his father. "I wasunder the impression that you and Larry had plans for tonight."Mel wondered exactly what his dad was talking about now. Larry washis best friend, but, while it was true that the two of them. The more awake I became, the more I realized what a stupid move that had been. I put myself at risk and gained nothing worthwhile for it. Self loathing was a powerful emotion; it caused me to attack that thug, when the night before self preservation kept me from doing the same thing. It seemed to be an emotion strong enough to force one to do terribly stupid things.The shower and the day old coffee helped me with my self esteem issue even more. I still felt worthless, but not quite as suicidal..