I kicked out catching her in the stomach and knocking her back, following up with a series of cuts – not heavy swings because I knew she would explo...it that and get inside me for the kill in the time that would take. I drove her with little cuts, backing her off her guard as she struggled to catch her breath. I turned my wrist and hit her in the bare ribs with the flat of the blade, making her gasp and reel to the side, backing up, still blocking but breathing hard and running out of wall. . The whole Drugstore Condo thing put me back in the mood to deal in Real Estate. I decided when Sylvia finally arrived I would indeed get back to it.I was all introspective while I waited for Sylvia. I was surprised to learn how much of our personality is nothing more than memory. The new me was a poster girl for the theory that we are the sum total of our past experiences. In my case it was the memory of those experiences that lived on. I thought that I was doing just fine. Since no one else. Thankfully, they just walked like to friends and weren’t hanging on each other like horny teenagers. I sat and enjoyed a pint of Guinness.After about 20 minutes, Susan returned, smiling but glassy eyed. “Looks like someone had fun!” I smiled back. She plopped down in her chair. “Was it everything you had hoped?” I asked raising my glass to her. “Wow!” she said and we both chuckled. “I love you, Steven, but Tom can fuck!” She held my arm as I waved my other hand for a fresh round. She proceeded. I knew what he was trying to do, but escaping to the kitchen suddenly didn’t seem far enough. ‘Sorry Adam, I’d love to, but I should go. I’m in court tomorrow afternoon and I still have a lot left to prepare for.’ I collected my purse and jacket and slipped my feet into my boots. ‘I’ll see you all next week.’ Everyone in the room said goodbye cheerfully. Everyone but Nate. He never looked up as he strummed his guitar. ~*~ Three days later, I was shuffling through a stack of briefs when an.