The ceiling loomed over me as I lay on the couch, eyes wide open, hugging Elliot to my chest. Morning came and went, but sleep never arrived. The events of the night before replayed over and over. I’d made a fool of myself.

At least I didn’t have to face any of them the next two days.

The late morning sun cast a searching glow into my tomb of a living room. I knew I had no reason to be so worked up, that this was just another passing instance in a long line of instances. And yet this one was different than the others, because this one seemed to penetrate down to the real me. It wasn’t just my genetic mask surging hormones and neurotransmitters. This I felt down to my core. Down to that ancient part of me that’s been around since before humans could even speak. ...

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