“Happy birthday beautiful.” His voice is a light, welcome jangling of syllables and slightly effeminate influxes.

My big brother Billy has flown from O’Hare to Will Rogers International, to see the progress I’ve made since he left 11 years ago.

It’s been nine years since my brother left me on a steel bird to places I couldn’t catch up with.

I’m trying to find you Billy. What city are you in, what continent? Forever indulging in the luxury of being away from me.

His eyes dazzle me near dead, just as Nathaniel’s do.

Nathaniel’s name is dangerous in this house.

To be fair I used Nathaniel in much the same way he used me: to fill a void.

I’m not going to let him leave me here with nothing but my mother’s inheritance and an empty house again.

In the morning, we pack for another flight. With five cities in under two weeks, I’m being dragged along a smeary water-color tour of the world, where everything has been de-saturated and diluted to an unforgivable degree.
We arrive in Kent and check into The Marquis, the deep grey rooms reflect the sky outside and [...]

She’s visibly taken aback at my words as I wrap a pale arm around Billy’s waist and tug him down onto the bed.