Hoping. Dreading.“Eric…” she suddenly said, her voice both breezy and foreboding like a butterfly with a chainsaw.Gurgle. Gurgle.“...do you…...” she continued slowly, deliberately.Gurgle. Gurgle. Gurgle.Eric gnawed his upper lip. From the edge of his vision, he could see her pointing her finger at the television.“... want to try that?”Pop!---0---6 weeks ago...After lunch, Eric walked around his apartment gathering his books and laptop into his bag as he prepared to go to his afternoon lectures. . "This is a powerful object. It allows the wearer to achieve things far beyond any mortal man. If you grasp it within your hand and speak of someone, they'll be physically affected. You cannot change their mind, but you can bend their body to your will. Anything is possible with enough imagination, young man... Trust me. Think beyond the norm." Uh... Excuse me?"The old man laughed. You'd laugh now, knowing what this thing is capable of. But at the time you didn't believe it."Take it. Free of. ‘I’ve only come to say good bye and I expect to find the house in the same shape when I return.’ Buxton and the other men offered their hands and the women, led by Mrs. Williams, hugged him. Only Kathleen held back. There was an awkward silence. Mrs. Williams spoke, ‘Take of yourself. Come back safe.’ There was catch in her voice. ‘Kathleen, would you please come with me.’ Charles watched them go and after a few minutes, he followed. He found the two in the office. ‘I’ll leave the two alone.. “Good morning, lover.” She said cheerfully.“Did you have a good day at work yesterday? I tried to wait up for you, but I could not. Sorry.”She gave me a peck on the cheek. I was trying to act normal.“Do not worry, I was very tired anyway,” I said. “How was your night?”“Same old pretty boring I guess. I just watched some TV until I went to bed.”She suddenly downed her coffee and gave me another kiss. “I love you, hun, got to the office now.”I watched out the window as she drove away. When she.