Page 52 - Where the Dream Ends ebook

Marc Erdrich

The aerosol was still aimed at his face, but the woman no
longer had the crazed expression she had when she first saw
him.

“Please, let me help you clean up,” he said, moving toward
her.

“Stop!” she said, taking aim, still considering her options.
“Look, I’m not going to hurt you. Really, I’m not.”

“Just…don’t move. Stay where you are. I need to think.”
She stood facing him, the bottle aimed at his face, shifting
nervously from foot to foot.

Harry stared at the woman. She was young, not much older
than his daughter really, very attractive, and she was sweating
profusely. For the first time he felt she believed him, that he
was safe and in charge now. Unexpectedly, as soon as he re-
alized he was no longer in danger, he began to feel sexually
aroused. He imagined making love to her, here in the house
where he grew up, in the very bedroom where he masturbated
for the first time when he was twelve years old, while his aging
parents had sex.

“How long have you lived here?” Harry asked, trying to
break the spell that seemed to have come over them.

“A year,” she said, still holding the can. “Oh shit!” she said,
tossing the spray container into her purse.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

“Look, I’m really sorry. I’ve done a terrible thing” Harry
said. I don’t know what came over me. I’ve never done any-
thing like this before. Please, please forgive me.”

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