Meredith lowered the shade, darkening the bedroom somewhat
from the unruly sunlight.
"Alaska, Rick? We had to move to Alaska?"
Her husband glanced in her direction but didn’t say a word.
She threw a thick flannel blanket over the single window,
attempting to block some more of the impertinent sun.
"I haven't slept well in three weeks, Rick. Three
friggin weeks. Friggin sunshine all the friggin time. And when the sun ain't
friggin shining all the time, it's friggin snowing. All friggin winter we sat
in the dark and now the friggin sun won't go down.”
Rick stared upwards towards the ceiling, swallowing the sour
bile that was trying to force its way into his mouth from the burning ulcer in
his stomach.
"And where is all the friggin money you were talking
about? Great opportunities for someone like you, you said. Yeah right. Nine
months and you still ain't got a job. Well, just so you know, our savings is
just about gone."
No, things hadn't worked out exactly like Rick had hoped,
but they rarely do.
All he needed was some sleep, some quiet, but unfortunately
the current onslaught might go on for hours.
"I'll sleep much better when we are out of this
shithole and back in civilization. Friggin sunli…."
Rick yanked the Glock from his nightstand, pressed the cold
steel to the back of his wife's head, and pulled the trigger.
The room rocked with silence.
"And I sleep much better this way, Meri. Much
better."