Avoidance helped settle the emotions. Considerably.

If only we could have picked our family...

Friends in high places definitely helped- especially if you had enemies in even higher spots.

I wouldn’t say I was forward, but I made a move when I was interested.

You give me thirty-two inches of folded steel and I'll take on anyone you want." -- Merit

A slap wouldn’t have pulled me out of the trance any faster.