Darkness Before Dawn

Author's note:

Thanks for checking out my story. May turn into a series as there is lots to explore with these characters. I love getting comments and feedback, especially from other writers, so please drop a comment or message with your thoughts.

This is a work of fiction and any similarity to real world locations, names, dates, etc is purely coincidental. All characters are, of course, over 18 years old.

This work does include themes and descriptions of loss, depression, alcoholism, and suicidal ideation. It you are sensitive to these topics then take care if reading or skip the story.

If you or anyone you know thinks about suicide, please access whatever mental health resources that are available in your area.

***

The shining chrome finish of the revolver contrasted against the black velvet that lined the decorative wooden box. Daniel sat on the edge of his bed, dressed in a wrinkled suit, and stared at it. The gun had been a gift from his father-in-law.

"A man needs to be able to protect his family," the old man had told him.

Daniel looked at the clock. 7:28 AM. It was almost time to leave for work so he would have to decide. It will still be here tonight, he told himself as he closed the box and slowly placed it in his nightstand.

After driving to work in silence, Daniel parked in the same spot he had for the last 6 years in front of the low-rise office building. Making his way to his office, he didn't bother even faking a smile as people greeted him. He sat at his desk and opened his email.

271 unread emails

Daniel closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Today wasn't the day he was going to answer any of them. His desk phone rang but he didn't bother answering it either. The ringing stopped after a moment and the red light illuminated indicating he had a voicemail. Standing up, Daniel walked down the hall to a bullpen of cubicles. He saw Chris, the lead software engineer, standing by a central coffee maker.

"Are we on schedule, Chris?"

"Hey boss. Uhhh, yeah. Are you feeling ok?" The bearded man had a genuine look of concern.

"Fine, the schedule?"

"Well, the latest push had some issues so that might put us back a couple of days. Nothing the team can't handle though..."

The lead engineer continued talking but Daniel stared straight ahead, the words entering his ears but making no impact.

"No worries, Chris. Just do the best you can. I know you can handle things."

He walked away as Chris stared with a worried look. They had worked together for years but the introverted software engineer still didn't feel comfortable having anything more than a surface level conversation. He knew he should. He saw the pain masked behind Daniel's eyes but just couldn't bring himself to do it. Daniel walked on.

Rebecca from accounting tried to stop him in the hall with an empathetic look on her face. "Hey Daniel, how are you doing? Let me know if there's anything you need."

"Hi Rebecca, I'm fine." Daniel didn't bother slowing down as he walked past her. He sat back down at his desk and spent the next few hours looking out the window, ignoring the increasing number of emails as they came in. Just after lunch time, he walked back to his car and drove home in silence. Daniel poured himself a glass of bourbon and sat on the couch in his dark living room. The blinds hadn't been open in weeks and the only light in the room were the shafts of light that spilled past the sides of the coverings.

It was pitch black when the bottle was finished and Daniel went upstairs. He peeled off his clothes, letting them fall on the floor, and went to the wooden box in the nightstand. Daniel sat naked at the edge of the bed and stared at the shiny finish reflecting the miniscule amount of light in the room.

It will still be here in the morning.

Daniel closed the wooden box and returned it to its place in his nightstand. He laid down and closed his eyes. How many days had he gone through this same routine? A dozen? A month? More? It had been over a year since She had been gone. When did he start thinking about it? Could he have been holding on for so long?

Maybe tomorrow will be different. Maybe tomorrow he will be ready.

***

The shining chrome finish of the revolver contrasted against the black velvet that lined the decorative wooden box. Daniel sat on the edge of his bed, dressed in the same wrinkled suit he pulled off the floor, and stared at the revolver.

It will still be here tonight, he told himself after what seemed like an eternity.

Daniel drove to work in silence. When was the last time he even turned on the radio? He pulled into the familiar spot automatically and went up to his office.

297 unread emails

This wasn't going to be the day he answered them. Daniel stared out the window for a while.

"Hey, Danny. How are you doing buddy?" Richard walked into his office. Richard was the VP of the software division.

"The rollout is coming up. Lots of people are counting on you." Richard's smug smile made Daniel sick. "If there's anything you need, just let me know. We're like a family here after all."

Daniel didn't bother returning the fake smile back; he thought about Barbara. Her husband got sick and she had to take an extended leave to take care of him. She was let go shortly after. It was communicated as her leaving 'for personal reasons'.

"I'm fine Richard. Everything's on schedule."

"Great buddy. Counting on you." The fake smile melted off his face as he turned around to leave.

Daniel despised him. Richard could take his software rollout and shove it up his ass.

Maybe today is finally a good day, Daniel thought as he stared out the window.

He left work shortly after lunch, his drive home seeming more peaceful than usual. Getting home, Daniel went straight for the familiar bottle. Damn, empty.

There's always time for a drink, Daniel thought. It wasn't like he was on a schedule.

Daniel walked back out to his car, not bothering to lock the front door. He knew there was a bar barely 10 minutes away. It was a dive bar but what did he care, any place was good for a couple of drinks.

O'Shaughnessy's Pub was almost empty. The afternoon crowd on a weekday was pretty sparse. Making his way into the dimly lit bar, Daniel sat in a booth at the back of the large, open room and stared at the table.

A young looking girl in a low cut top and short shorts, with streaks of purple in her hair stopped at his table. "Hey, I'm Tiff, I'll be your server. What can I get you started with?" She couldn't have been much older than 21.

Daniel stared blankly at her face. He could recognize a fake smile when he saw it.

"Hi Tiff. Can you please bring me an old fashioned?... And after you bring it to me, can you please ring in another old fashioned?... And can you please keep doing that until I ask you to stop?"

Working at a bar in that neighborhood, Tiff didn't blink an eye. She had seen her fair share of drunks come in and out at all hours of the day. "Coming right up." Her face kept the smile on but Daniel recognized sadness behind her eyes.

Everyone has their burdens to bear, he thought. He felt his shoulders relax. At least his are almost over. Daniel stared at the table and waited.

"Here you go, mister." She slid the drink to him.

"Thanks." Daniel took the drink without looking up and took a deep sip. If he cared more, he might have complained. The drink tasted like bottom shelf bourbon and there wasn't a hint of bitters.

It didn't matter anyways; Daniel finished the drink before Tiff managed to bring the next one. He stared at the table. Maybe he would see Her soon. The thought released a wave of warmth over his body; or maybe it was the bourbon.

***

"Mister... Mister..." Tiff stood beside Daniel as his half closed eyes tried to focus on her. "We're closing up."

"Ok, thanks," Daniel murmured. "I'll settle up at the bar."

He got up slowly and made his way to the server station at the bar. Tiff ran his card through and Daniel walked slowly and deliberately out of the bar and to his car. Getting in, he sat behind the wheel for an indeterminate amount of time.

Not like this, he decided. Daniel had already decided on the way. Besides, after having so many drinks, he couldn't bring himself to put the keys in the ignition. Not after Her.

Daniel got out of his car and started the walk home. It wouldn't be more than 30 minutes anyways. His body felt weightless. For the first time in a long while he noticed little things around him... The breeze rustling the leaves of trees as he passed them, the sounds of the city around him.

He walked for a while, not caring about the specific route he took. He knew the direction he needed to go. Towards home... Towards Her.

Walking up the historic stone bridge, Daniel saw a dark shape sitting on the thick railing. None of his business, he thought as he approached. Everyone has their problems. A bit closer he started to hear the sounds of soft sobbing. It wasn't until he was beside the dark shape that he saw the streaks of purple hair in the moonlight. Daniel couldn't help but stop next to her.

"Do you need anything?" He asked and felt stupid immediately after.

The dark face turned towards him and their eyes met for a moment. Daniel recognized the pain behind those moonlit eyes.

"Please, Just go." The girl turned away.

Daniel leaned against the railing beside her. "It's a beautiful night." He looked out over the water.

The girl said nothing.

"Why don't you come off of there?" He held out a hand, not too close to not scare her.

"Don't... Don't try and stop me." The girl didn't look at him but he felt like he had her attention.

"Why don't you come with me?" Daniel said. He thought about the gleaming chrome revolver. "The bridge will still be here tomorrow."

A moment passed as the girl considered what he said. It will still be here tomorrow.

A delicate hand finally took his. Daniel felt the warmth of another person's skin that he hadn't felt in a long time. The girl looked at him and their eyes met in the moonlight.

Daniel mustered a smile and for the first time in a long time, it was genuine.

"Tiff, right?" He mustered a smile at her.

"Yeah, short for Tiffany." She slowly swung her legs back over the railing. Daniel held her warm hand gently but firmly as she scooted off the railing back onto the sidewalk of the bridge.

"I don't live far. Why don't you come with me?" He held her hand, as if releasing it might make her disappear.

Tiffany didn't say anything but nodded and allowed herself to be led by him. They walked hand in hand for the 20 minutes back to Daniel's home in silence. He guided her through the unlocked front door and walked her to the bare kitchen.

"Are you hungry?" Daniel looked in her eyes and Tiffany broke eye contact, looking down. She nodded.

He opened the fridge but found only condiments and long expired take-out containers.

"I can make us some soup." He opened a cabinet and pulled out a can of chicken noodle soup.

Tiffany sat at the kitchen table in silence as he opened the can and placed the contents in a pot before turning on the stove. Daniel stared at her and recognized a familiar sense of sadness. They stayed in the kitchen, wordless, while the soup warmed up. When it finally started simmering, Daniel took it off the stove and poured the contents of the pot equally into two bowls.

He grabbed spoons and put a bowl in front of Tiffany before sitting with his own bowl across from her. They avoided eye contact as they ate.

"This is really good," Tiffany finally said softly when her bowl was nearly empty.

"Yeah." Daniel didn't know what else to say and made an awkward but genuine smile.

They both finished their bowls and sat in silence for a minute, as if expecting the other person to take the lead. Daniel finally stood up and extended a hand to Tiffany.

"You can stay here tonight if you want."

Tiffany took his hand without looking up. She allowed herself to be led up the stairs to the spare bedroom.

"You can stay here," Daniel indicated at the open door and waited.

Tiffany was silent for a long while. "Please don't leave me alone," she finally said as she reached a hand up to his chest. Daniel's body recoiled at the potential contact. Her head and eyes sunk further down.

"Ok," Daniel managed to say as he felt guilt from his reaction. He touched the small of her back gently with a hand and guided her into the bedroom.

She moved into the open door and Daniel followed, as if his fingers were glued to her delicate back. Tiffany crawled into the bed and got under the covers fully clothed. He got into bed on top of the covers facing her as she lay with her back to him. There was a foot between them.

A long silent moment went by and then Tiffany slowly scooted her body backwards towards Daniel until their bodies touched through the thick blanket and he felt her warmth, even through the covers. Daniel instinctively put his arm around her and she grabbed it, pulling it tight against her stomach.

Daniel smelled the faint scent of lavender on her hair as their bodies pressed against each other. He didn't sleep all night, paralyzed by the alien feeling of another body against him. Painful memories plagued him.

***

The first glimpses of light started coming through the blinds when Tiffany finally released his arm and rolled onto her stomach. Daniel took the opportunity to roll away from her and off the bed. He went back to his room and the familiar wooden box in his nightstand. He sat at the edge of his bed, back against the door.

The shining chrome finish of the revolver contrasted against the black velvet that lined the decorative wooden box. Daniel sat on the edge of his bed, dressed in the same wrinkled suit he laid in all night. The revolver beckoned him to pick it up.

Daniel heard a noise behind him and looked over his shoulder. Tiffany was standing at his bedroom door.

"I need to go to work." He closed the wooden box in his lap.

"Please don't leave me," Tiffany said softly, not entering his room.

Daniel took a deep breath, then another.

"Ok, I just need to make a call. I'll come down to the kitchen in a minute," he said over his shoulder.

Tiffany left the doorway of his bedroom and he pulled his phone out of his pocket and hit a contact. They picked up after a few seconds.

"Richard, I'm not going to be in today."

"Hey, Danny; You know the deadline is coming up. I think the company has been more than fair after the accident. A lot of people are counting on you. A lot of money is on the line..."

"Richard," Daniel interrupted him, "I'm not going to be coming in ever again."

"Now listen Danny, deadlines are coming up. Your contact has a four-week minimum termination clause. If you try and quit, I could sue; We could sue you for millions in lost profits. The board..."

"Shut the fuck up, Dick!" Daniel interrupted him. Richard was stunned. "If you try to sue me," Daniel tore into him, "I am going to find the most attention hungry lawyer in the country. Then you are going to be explaining to the board why you are all over social media for suing a widower that is too heart-broken to meet your corporate deadlines! You're going to pay me out my accrued vacation and the 8 weeks of separation pay in my contract."

"Danny, you know we can't..."

"I swear to God, Dick, if you say another word, I am going to come to the building this morning and blow my brains out all over your corner office."

There was a long silence. "Jesus Daniel, ok, whatever you want." Richard sounded contrite for the first time since Daniel had known him.

Daniel hung up and thought for a moment. Had he gone too far with the comment about blowing his brains out? Any decent human being would call the authorities if someone made a threat like that. Richard was a coward though, and he didn't give a shit about anyone but himself. He wouldn't care if Daniel killed himself, as long as it didn't impact him personally. The most he would do is put him on the no-access list with security, but Daniel had no intention of ever going back there.

Daniel found Tiffany sitting at the kitchen table waiting for him.

"Do you want breakfast?" He looked at her and she nodded shyly. "We might have to go out then." Daniel closed the fridge after confirming that there was still no food suitable to eat in it. "We'll have to pick up my car first."

They left the house in silence and started the walk towards O'Shaughnessy's Pub. After 20 minutes, they turned and approached the bridge. Daniel suddenly felt a hand in his, holding on tightly. He returned the grip and they walked wordlessly over the bridge past the spot they had met the previous night. Tiffany didn't release his hand until they were back in the parking lot beside the pub. Daniel unlocked the doors and they both got in.

Daniel started the car up and Tiffany instantly reached to the console, turning the radio on. The sound of soft rock filled the car. Daniel recognized the song but couldn't remember the last time he played his car radio.

"I know a diner that's not too far away." Tiffany heard the words but didn't react. She just started out the window as the car started moving.

Daniel took care to choose a route that wouldn't have them crossing the bridge, even though they had to take a detour. He hoped Tiffany didn't notice. They pulled up to a diner that looked like it had been there for a few decades too long without a fresh paint job.

"It doesn't look like much, but the food is good," Daniel assured her and Tiffany just nodded as they went in.

The place was almost empty and they sat across from each other in a booth with a view out the front. An overweight, friendly older lady came by with a carafe of coffee and filled two mugs that had been pre-placed at each table.

"Do you know what you want, or do you need menus?" The waitress asked in a friendly tone, not addressing either in particular.

Daniel looked at Tiffany, but she just shrugged.

"I'll get two eggs, over easy, sausage, hashbrowns and rye toast." The words rolled out of Daniel as if he had said them dozens of times before. He got the same thing every time he went out for breakfast.

"And for you sweetie?" The lady smiled at Tiffany.

Tiffany just smiled and nodded. "Make that two," Daniel confirmed to the server and she walked away slowly.

They both just sat in that booth, across from each other, staring at their own coffee mug without saying a word. Tiffany cracked first.

"My parents died in a car crash when I was 12," she said expectantly without taking her eyes off her coffee.

At the mention of a car crash, Daniel suppressed his emotions as he stared blankly at his coffee. Tiffany shifted uncomfortably in her seat and Daniel knew she wanted him to ask follow up questions. Maybe she needed to explain why he found her sitting on a bridge.

"What happened to you after they died?" Daniel finally asked without looking up.

"I lived in group homes mostly," Tiffany looked at him, finally ready to tell her story after his question. "Those weren't very... good for me. I went to a foster home for a year but that didn't work out."

"You don't have any other family? Maybe in another part of the country?" Daniel asked, finally able to meet her gaze.

"Not that I know of. I just kind of bounced between group homes until I turned 18 and aged out. Then I had to find my own way."

"So you have no one?" Daniel had an expressionless look on his face.

"I have a boyfriend, but he's not really..." Tiffany trailed off and frowned as if regretting mentioning him in the first place before finishing. "... good to me."

"So why are you with him?"

The food arrived and Tiffany waited until the waitress was out of earshot again before answering.

"Maybe being with somebody bad is better than being alone." She looked down at her plate.

"Maybe..." Daniel trailed off. They both ate in silence for a while.

Tiffany was the one to break the silence again. "Do you live in that house by yourself?"

"Yup." She waited to see if he was going to say anything else before continuing her questions.

"Have you always lived there by yourself?" She asked but knew the answer already. Tiffany had seen the hooks and pins in the bare walls where pictured once hung.

"Nope."

Another long silence as she confirmed he wasn't going to keep going on his own. "What happened?"

Daniel looked her in the eyes and took a long, deep breath, as if building something inside himself to be able to say the words.

"She died," he finally said in a soft voice, "over a year ago."

"How did she die?" Tiffany lowered her voice to a whisper, as if anything louder might scare him away.

Daniel's eyes couldn't mask the pain and there was a long pause before he answered. "She died in a car accident. She was hit by a drunk driver."

Tiffany broke his gaze and looked down at her coffee sadly. "Oh," and after a few seconds added, "I'm really sorry."

"Thanks." Daniel looked down too.

They ate the rest of their breakfast in silence. When they were finished, Daniel pulled a few bills out of his wallet and left them on the table. It was enough to cover the bill with a generous tip. Getting back in the car, Daniel drove them back to his house, with the only sound being the soft rock radio station that was still on. Once they got back to his house they stood in the kitchen for a while until Daniel broke the silence.

"What's your full name and date of birth?" Daniel looked at her.

Tiffany was surprised at the question; So surprised she answered without asking why he was suddenly asking this. "Tiffany Harris. July 27th, 2005"

"I need to run an errand. Are you going to be ok here for a couple of hours? The T. V. works and I can pick up some food for lunch when I come back." Daniel watched her eyes intently, as if studying if she would do something without him there.

"Ya," Tiffany nodded before adding, "Is it ok if I take a shower here? And maybe wash my clothes?"

"Yeah, there's towels on the shelf in the upstairs bathroom; and the laundry is just through there." He gestured with his hand at a door just beyond the kitchen. "Are burgers ok for lunch?"

"Yes please," Tiffany said timidly and nodded as she smiled at him.

"I should be back in a couple of hours." Daniel left the front door and got in his car. There was just one thing he needed to do, then he would be ready, he thought.

***

Daniel pulled up to the single-story office not too far from his house.

BROWN AND ASSOCIATES

He went in and greeted the receptionist. "Morning, is Gordon available?"

"Good morning. One moment, I will check for you." She hit a few keys on her computer keyboard and spoke into the slim headset she wore. Daniel hadn't called to make an appointment but his lawyer, Gordon, was mostly retired and just did some simple services for a few clients to keep himself busy.

"Daniel," Gordon greeted with an outstretched hand at the door to his office, "Please, come in, have a seat."

Daniel shook his hand before following Gordon into his office, sitting in the comfortable chair opposite Gordon's. The lawyer looked up and down at Daniel's wrinkled suit and had a face of concern.

"I'd like to update my will," Daniel said blankly.

"Actually, I have been meaning to get a hold of you about that. It still has..." The old lawyer caught himself. "Errr, anyways, one never knows when it's appropriate to bring these things up." Gordon looked uncomfortable from his gaffe of almost bringing up Daniel's deceased wife.

"It's fine, Gordon." Daniel started writing something on the notepad that was sitting on the desk. "I want to name this person as my sole beneficiary."

"Tiffany Harris," Gordon read the name as Daniel slid the pad to him.

"Are you sure, Daniel? With the house, and the settlement; That's a lot of money." The lawyer's look of concern deepened. "Is everything ok? Who is this girl to you?"

"Gordon," Daniel interjected and tried to make the most neutral face he could, "Do you doubt that I am of sound mind?"

"Daniel..." Gordon opened his hands over the desk. "I can tell you are hurting. But that is not unusual for anyone that is going through what you are going through."

"Then update my will and execute it in accordance with my wishes when the time comes."

The lawyer conceded. "Of course, Daniel. I'll have Jennifer update the paperwork. It shouldn't take long."

Gordon called his paralegal while Daniel got up and wandered around the office, looking at the various decorations and mementos that adorned the shelves. Gordon spoke to him as they waited but the conversation was largely one-sided. After what seemed like only 20 minutes, Jennifer came into the room and handed Gordon a folder, giving Daniel a polite smile.

Daniel sat back down at the desk and Gordon went through the paperwork. It didn't take long since it was fairly simple, the entire estate going to a lone beneficiary. When everything was signed and countersigned, Daniel got up to leave.

"Oh, Gordon, give me one of your business cards," he said as he shook his lawyer's hand.

The old man looked a bit confused since he knew Daniel well, having been his lawyer for years, and wasn't taking on any new clients. He didn't question it though and simply dug one out of his desk and handed it to Daniel.

"Take care of yourself, Daniel," Gordon said kindly as Daniel left.

***

Daniel walked back through his front door carrying a bag of burgers from a drive-through that he stopped at and was surprised to find Tiffany on the couch wrapped in a towel. It barely covered her body from her armpits to her upper thighs. She jumped up, a bit startled and embarrassed.

"Oh, hey Daniel. Sorry," she stammered a bit, due to the embarrassment and indicated down at herself. "My clothes are still in the dryer. I didn't think you would be back so soon."

"It's fine, Tiffany." Daniel seemed un-phased as he had more important things on his mind. "Here, I brought lunch."

They sat on the couch and ate, Tiffany awkwardly crossing her legs and angling away from Daniel so she wasn't completely exposed to him. Although she noticed that Daniel didn't even try and look down where the towel ended, as any man, in her experience, would surely do. They were well into their burgers when Daniel finally looked her in the eyes.

"Listen, when I am gone, you need to go see this lawyer." He held the business card in an outstretched hand. "He will make sure you are taken care of."

"What do you mean, when you are gone?" and her face turned into a look of anger and betrayal as she realized what he meant.

"No!" She shook her head violently at him and jumped up. "You don't just get to leave me. You don't just get to pull me off a bridge and then leave. You're a fucking hypocrite you know that!" Tiffany had rage in her eyes now and she wasn't holding back.

Honk; Honk.

She was interrupted by two honks and loud music coming from the front of the house.

"Tiffany, you stupid bitch. Get your ass out here!" Someone shouted from outside.

Tiffany's face went pale as the blood rushed out of it. It went from rage to utter fear in a split second. Daniel stood up slowly.

"Oh no." She looked terrified. "Ricky, he tracks my phone."

"Why does he track your phone? Why is he even here?" Daniel was trying to put everything she had told him together. He had guessed that the boyfriend was abusive, but never imagined it was to this level.

"I... I owe him money. That's why I can't leave him. He won't let me." Tiffany's heart raced like a rabbit caught in a trap.

"Well, how much do you owe him?" Daniel's unusual calm contrasted with Tiffany's panic.

"Almost 2000 dollars."

"Come on." Daniel grabbed her by the shoulders and guided her upstairs. He gently pushed her into the spare bedroom they had stayed in last night and closed the door before going to his own room. 20 seconds passed and he was walking down the stairs and to the front door as the horn honked a couple more times. Daniel went outside.

A thin, pale man that might have been in his mid-20s stood on Daniel's front lawn looking back at another man that was seated in the drivers' seat of the muscle car. He saw Daniel leave the house and turned to face him, his hands making wild gestures.

"Who the fuck are you? You fake business, wrinkly ass suit mother-fucker?" The man Daniel guessed was Ricky had a way with words. "I got nothin' to say to you. Go back in there and tell that bitch, Tiffany, to get out here!"

Daniel stopped in front of the man and sized him up for a moment. He reached into his suit pocket with his left hand and pulled out a small bundle of folded 100-dollar bills, holding it out to Ricky.

"There's 2000 dollars here," Daniel gestured with the money as he spoke, "Take this and consider her debt paid." Daniel stared into Ricky's eyes without blinking.

Ricky made a fake sounding chuckle. "Sure man, I'll take the money, but Tiffany is still coming with me." He lifted the front of his baggy shirt with his left hand revealing a hand gun tucked into his pants.

With a flash of light from the glistening chrome, Daniel pulled his revolver out with his right hand and aimed it at Ricky's head in one smooth motion. Ricky let his shirt drop and took half a step back, not expecting it. He raised both hands to his sides almost even with his shoulders. Daniel spoke first.

"Listen you piece of shit. You can take this money and never see or contact Tiffany again," Daniel kept eye contact with Ricky and cocked the revolver with his thumb, "Or, I can shoot you, then myself in the head and splatter our brains all over this neighborhood."

Ricky's mouth fell open and his hands shook noticeably. He looked into Daniel's eyes and saw nothing. There was no fear; No anger; Nothing but deep seated pain. Daniel wasn't bluffing and Ricky knew it. Daniel had phrased it as a choice but he knew that to a coward like Ricky, it was no choice. Ricky would take the money and slink away. Hell, he might even tell his friends that he beat it out of Daniel to save face.

"Ok man; Be cool... Be cool," Ricky moved towards him slowly with his arms still shoulder height until he was close enough to reach out for the money. Daniel let the trembling hand take it out of his finders and then Ricky started backing away. Ricky didn't lower his hands until he was almost at the passenger side door.

"You're a fucking psycho man, you two deserve each other," Ricky cursed at Daniel and turned to get into the car.

Daniel lowered the revolver but didn't move or take his gaze off Ricky until the car was well down the block. Then he finally sighed and turned around. Daniel looked up at his house and saw Tiffany's face disappear from the upstairs window that she had been watching from. He walked into his front door and Tiffany crashed into him, burying her face into his chest.

"Please..." She was sobbing loudly against him. "Please don't leave... Please don't leave me..."

Daniel put his arms around her. "Shhhh." He looked down at her until his chin was touching the top of her head. "Ok," He took a deep breath, "Ok; I won't leave you."

Daniel held Tiffany tightly as she cried into his chest for a few minutes until it seemed like she ran out of tears.

"Daniel?" She looked up at him with mascara running down her face. "When was the last time you showered?"

With Tiffany's freshly showered body pressed against him, he was suddenly aware of his own smell. "I... I don't know."

Tiffany smiled at him with soft eyes and slowly pulled away from him. She took him by the hand and gently pulled him up the stairs after her. She led him into the main bathroom and let his hand go. Daniel's arms fell to his sides and he stared blankly. She turned on the water in the shower before facing him again.

With slow, deliberate movements, Tiffany pushed Daniel's suit jacket off of his shoulders and let it fall to the ground. She then slowly unbuttoned his dress shirt and slipped it off him, letting it fall the same way. Tiffany stared into his eyes as she reached out, but Daniel's blank look told her nothing. He made no movement to stop her, so she hesitantly reached for his belt, undoing it, following immediately with his pants. They fell down his legs into the growing pile of clothes at his feet.

Tiffany paused again, as if giving him plenty of time to stop her. When he didn't make a move, she finally reached out and slid his boxers down. Tiffany stepped back, taking the view of the broken man in for a moment until, without a word, she let her towel fall off her body. They just stood there for a while, exposed to each other, Daniel's sad eyes scanning her down, then up again. Her breasts were small and perky, the little nipples hard from being exposed to the cool air. She watched his eyes travel lower, over her stomach, past the small mound with a patch of neatly trimmed pubic hair, down her legs and to her feet before coming back up and meeting her eyes.

Daniel's facial expression remained stoic. He just looked tired, sad and broken. Tiffany checked the water temperature before guiding him into the shower, following right behind him. Daniel stood there as if paralyzed, while the warm water ran over his body. She rested her head against his chest lightly and listened to his breathing and heart, closing her eyes.

After a few minutes of silent embrace, she began washing him. Lathering one part of his body at a time before rinsing it off with the removable shower head. Daniel remained still as a statue, except when he allowed himself to be turned around so she could wash his back. Even when her hand traveled between his legs and she gently massaged soap onto his manhood, he remained still and silent. The water was beginning to come out cooler when she finally finished thoroughly washing every inch of Daniel.

Turning the shower off, Tiffany guided Daniel out of the shower before drying him, then herself off. Whatever last bit of energy was keeping Daniel from collapsing was quickly running out. It was like the weight of the last year was all coming down on him at this moment. Tiffany noticed his head beginning to slump, so she guided him into his bedroom, laying him down on his back before crawling next to him and covering them both with the blanket.

Daniel felt Tiffany's soft, warm body press against his side, her head nestling against his chest. As his eyes closed, her arm slid over his body and her leg moved up on top of his legs pulling even tighter into him. Her breasts were pressed against his side and the small tuft of hair tickled his leg. Daniel fell asleep, and after a few minutes of listening to his heart, Tiffany did too.

***

When Tiffany woke up, the room was still pitch black. They had gone to bed so early because Daniel was on the verge of collapse. She listened to his breathing. It was slow and steady. He was still sound asleep. She held onto him tightly, not wanting to move or risk waking him up. She closed her eyes again and smiled internally, not falling asleep but not moving a muscle either.

Light was already coming through the blinds hours later when she felt him stir and knew he was awake. Neither of them moved, their naked bodies pressed against each other.

"Morning," Daniel finally whispered to the top of her head.

Tiffany pulled her arm off of him and her hand brushed against something. Something hard, yet delicate under the covers. Even though Daniel hadn't felt joy or sexual excitement for the past year, his body still retained its basic physiological functions and he woke up with a hard on. He felt Tiffany smile against his chest a little. Her hand, slowly and carefully, moved towards his erect manhood and gripped it gently.

"Is this ok?" She whispered into his chest.

Daniel didn't say anything. He was paralyzed. Inside his head, his grief fought the basic urges that came with being touched by a pretty girl. Tiffany increased and decreased her grip as she moved her hand up and down his now throbbing dick. A moan escaped Daniel's lips and she looked up at him. He looked down at her in return but made no indication of the situation besides his ever increasing breathing.

She scooted up his body until she was high enough to meet his lips with hers. Daniel didn't return the kiss but savored the taste and feeling of her soft lips against his. Tiffany broke off the kiss and quickened the pace of her hand. Daniel moaned reflectively and took a sharp inhale.

Taking his reaction as a positive sign, Tiffany inched her body up onto him until she was straddling stomach, his cock still in her hand. She aligned him to herself as she slid down his body until his tip met her soft, wet lips. Daniel closed his eyes tight, torn between conflicting emotional and biological urges.

Tiffany released him with her hand and slowly let her weight sink onto him until he slipped inside her. She let out a whispered moan and savored the feeling. After a moment, she placed both hands on his chest and let her full weight drive Daniel all the way into her. "Mmmmmm," she moaned softly with more of a whimper. Daniel's eyes stayed closed and he made no motions but she felt him throb inside her.

A full minute passed as she let herself become accustomed to his size inside her. Then she started making small circles with her hips, almost imperceptible at first, but slowly increasing in size and speed. Daniel moaned uncontrollably.

Tiffany moaned louder now, her hips making wide circles as she ground her mound against his pelvis. Daniel's throbbing cock swirled inside her, making the fullness feel unbearably divine. His hands reflexively moved to her thighs and he gripped her soft skin. She took his hands and pulled them up over her body until they cupped her small breasts, his thumbs resting over her sensitive nipples. Tiffany tilted her head back and moaned gutturally.

Her hip movements stopped being circular and she just ground back and forth, rubbing her aching clit against his pelvis. Tiffany's pace quickened and high pitched moans escaped her in rhythm with her movement. Daniel, eyes still closed and hands cupping her breasts, felt her tighten around him. Her breathing was ragged and fast now. "Mmm... Mmm... Mmm..." She ground faster.

Daniel's hips started thrusting and bucking against his will as her small body began to shake and spasm. Tiffany bent forward, knocking his hand off her body and she grabbed his chest. Her eyes were closed tightly and her grinding hit a critical point. "Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm," she whined in a high pitch tone as the intense orgasm overtook her.

Feeling the wet, pulsing sensation gripping his cock, Daniel couldn't hold it anymore. "Urrrgggghhh." He grabbed her hips and exploded into her. Tiffany collapsed onto his chest and felt Daniel throb and pulse inside her, his hot seed filling her completely.

Daniel wrapped his hand around her heaving body and pulled her into him. She buried her face in his neck and they both lay there savoring the moment and catching their breath. Tiffany didn't move but felt Daniel slowly softening inside her. It was like he was pulling out excruciatingly slowly and her nerves, sensitivity heightened after her orgasm, screamed in pleasure. After what felt like an eternity, Tiffany felt the head of Daniel's cock gently slip out of her causing her body to shudder with pleasure. She wasn't prepared for what came next.

With a surprising wet sploosh, Daniel's cum poured out of her. "Oh my god," Tiffany whispered and buried her face in her hands, her face warm with embarrassment. Daniel didn't understand and made no judgments about this inevitable post-sex occurrence.

"I'm so sorry," Tiffany kept her face buried in her hand due to insecurity. "This is so embarrassing..." She got off him and cupped herself with her hands. Daniel didn't get a chance to say anything as he saw her silhouette awkwardly tiptoe out of his room. He heard the door of the main bathroom close.

Daniel lay there for a long while as the enormity of what just happened washed over him. It was too much to wrap his head around at that moment so he got up and walked to his ensuite. He cleaned himself up and brushed his teeth. The expression on his face seemed lighter and he looked at himself in the mirror. Once he was ready, Daniel moved through the dark room to his dresser and put on clean underwear, jogging pants and a t-shirt.

By the time he moved through the hall, Daniel saw that the main bathroom door was open and no one was in there. He walked down the stairs and found Tiffany sitting at the kitchen table. She was dressed in her own clothes that she must have just gotten out of the dryer. Their eyes met and she smiled briefly before blushing and lowering her head.

"Tiffany; I, uhh," Daniel was searching for the right words to say.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Tiffany blurted, interrupting him. "It's gorgeous outside."

Daniel noticed that the blinds had been opened and the morning sun streamed into the room. He smiled. "Sure, Tiffany."

"I think it's a bit chilly outside still. Can I borrow a sweater?"

Daniel looked at her low cut shirt and short shorts. The sun was shining but it was still early morning. He just smiled and nodded once before going back up the stairs. Daniel found an old but clean hoodie in the closet and made his way back downstairs.

Tiffany beamed as he handed it to her and she slipped it over her head. It was more than a few sizes too big and practically fell down past her shorts. Her fingers barely poked out of the long sleeves.

"This is perfect," she gushed and gave herself a huge hug in the oversized top.

Daniel couldn't help but think she looked adorable in the hoodie. There was something about a small woman in a baggy hoodie that appealed to him. They walked out the front door and down the sidewalk, going nowhere in particular.

Only half a block went by when Daniel felt fingers gently touch his palm. He took her hand and their fingers interlaced in a steady grip. Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw Tiffany smile as she kept staring at her own feet while they walked.

A few blocks passed and Tiffany lit up. "A park!" She practically dragged Daniel by the hand to the swing set in the small park. "I used to love going to the park; I always went to one to get out of the group home..." She went silent and Daniel recognized it brought up painful memories for her.

They sat sitting on the swings for a while, silently sharing each other's company. Daniel finally broke the silence.

"Tiffany, This morning, in bed; Why did you?" He didn't know how to ask.

"I'm sorry." She looked down as if she was being admonished. "I just... I just wanted to feel closer to you."

Daniel smiled at her as she looked down and continued talking. "You were really kind to me; Kinder than anyone has been in a long time. I just wanted to repay you, but I have nothing to offer except..." She trailed off.

"Tiffany, You don't need to repay anything, and especially not like that..."

"Usually, when guys want something from me; Well, it's usually..." Tiffany looked sad as if she was ashamed. "Usually they want that. And I don't have anything else to give."

"Tiffany, I don't; You don't need to give..." Daniel was looking for a way of saying it without her feeling utterly rejected.

"No," Tiffany cut him off, "I wanted to. I wanted to do that; To feel close to you."

She looked at him and smiled. Daniel's eyes softened and he smiled back.

"And sorry about after..." Tiffany's face went red. "It's so embarrassing."

She was blushing hard and Daniel consoled her. "There's nothing to apologize for," he chuckled, "It's a natural bodily thing. Plus, I'm pretty sure it's my fault."

Daniel laughed a bit and Tiffany couldn't help but laugh too.

"I know, but it was like, a lot." Her eyes went big as she looked at him and laughed. "I mean, it was a lot, a lot!"

Now it was Daniel's turn to feel embarrassed. Tiffany giggled as his face went red.

"Yeah, sorry. It's been a long time since... since I did anything like that."

"That's ok." She giggled a bit more. "I just hope that you liked it too. Liked it as much as I did."

"I did," Daniel met her hesitant smile, "I just need to go slow, ok?"

Tiffany's smile widened and she nodded enthusiastically. She reached her hand out and Daniel took it. They swung there slowly, hand in hand, not saying anything for a long while.