Days of Love and Blood

second too long. He can be scary.”
    “What’s his story?”
    “No one knows,” said Marianna. “I tried to ask once but he just cussed me out and threw a cigarette at me. It wasn’t lit or anything.”
    “When did he get here?”
    “He was the second, right?” Marianna looked at Ivy. “He arrived right after I did and ended up staying. He was real quiet at first. Barely spoke. But my boys were able to talk to him. They were the only ones he would respond to.”
    “Maybe he’s still a child or something?” said Jayde.
    “Probably goes deeper than that,” I suggested.
    After a couple of hours, I called Ronan back to the camper and gave Ivy a box of guide books that my father had used to help rig the house.
    “Give these to Solo mon. Tell him this will help get them started on setting up power here. I’ll come back later and try to help.”
    As I left the farm, I caught a glimpse of Cooper sitting in his t ruck at the end of the driveway, flicking ashes out the window and pretending not to notice my enormous camper as it pulled away. I waved anyway. He looked away.

Understanding
    The low thumping from the amplifiers made the glass table vibrate and the naked, tall glasses of cheap liquor pivoted in sloppy circles on their own plane of dewy condensation. The fast tempo was replaced by a sultry R&B song and people paired together in rhythmic duets; two bodies becoming one in slow, meaningful movement. My arms were around Ritchie and he pulled me close. Without words, he moved with me, leading me back and forth and pushing himself against me. Small droplets of sweat ran from his neck down behind his shirt. It was unusually hot for this time of night and the warm breeze against my neck amplified Ritchie’s hot breath. I wanted to feel more of it against my the rest of my body.
    Every so often he would kiss me deeply, only for a few seconds, and then pull back. I held his gaze and accepted every touch of his tongue. My hands slid up his arms and underneath the sleeves. I could feel his desire burning behind the depths of his eye. Each time his grip tightened it felt like he was biting my skin with his fingers.
    Being married didn’t take away the lust. All I wanted was to ditch our friends and take my husband home.

    A few days later I found myself in my parents’ bedroom with plastic bags, empty boxes and plastic bins. The need to clean out the house and make it our own was overwhelming although I knew this would be the most difficult room.
    After a few hours, I had already finished clearing out their clothes and was in the middle of packing away mother’s figurines, peaking at each one’s title etched onto the bottom, when I heard a knock at the door.
    “Ronan? Where are you?”
    “Right here. In my room.”
    “Stay there please.” I ran downstairs and grabbed the sword by the door as a precaution although it wasn’t likely that a homicidal would knock. “Who is it?” I barked.
    “Coop. It’s me, Cooper.” I unlocked the door and held it open but he remained standing on the front porch, ignoring my cue. He took one step back and looked down at his feet, reaching up to brush the back of his head.
    “Hey, Cooper. Is everything alright?”
    “Yeah - jus’ wanted to make sure you guys were a’right. Hadn’t heard from ya in a few days.”
    “I was thinking a bout that. We should get solar-powered walkie-talkies or something like that, so we can communicate from this house to yours. If they even make those - made them.”
    “Sure they do. Specialty stores have things like that.”
    “I wouldn’t know where to look,” I admitted.
    “If we can get them up on power, we wouldn’t need no solar-powered anything.”
    “Are they looking into it?” I asked.
    “Solomon and Brigham have been. And they’ve been scoutin’ other homes around here, like you suggested. They found three others which are in good condition and close enough nearby. They need supplies, though.”
    “We should plan a raid together.”
    “That’s what I was thinkin’.”
    “ Well come inside,” I said in the most motherly tone I could afford. I didn’t want to make him feel threatened in any way. I was already accustomed to his temper. “Let’s plan something.”
    “Cooper!” Ronan screamed as he ran into the kitchen.
    “Hey, kiddo.” He sat down and ruffled Ronan’s hair. Cooper’s face instantly lifted with the first real smile I had ever seen splashed across his face. He had the look of a