new "unreleased" excerpt from upcoming novel by author/poet Timothy Hollins

“…no matter, I can’t explain it.”
That remnant of the partially smeared and crumbled letter soaked from his tears is all that a weary and ill-fortuned Ricardo had left -remains of an acute “Dear John” note that meticulously brushed-stroked a melancholy and torturing desire inside of him. He read the words repeatedly, as he did each night; tossing in bundled covers until he tired and fell asleep with the paper grasped tightly in his hand. These six words, along with events leading to them, sculptured the image of a greater pain ever imaginable to him –pains that would bring about unspeakable events in his life.
****
The date was August 24, 1992. A heated afternoon in mid-town Lawton, Oklahoma during the close of summer would prove to be a most memorable day for 24-year-old Danielle Williams, as she lay exhausted from six hours of labor in the Comanche County Hospital. Joyful tears, mixed with the labored sweat, cascaded down her face as the corpulent pediatric nurse smiled and handed her a beautiful infant girl.
“Markia,” smiled Danielle, looking over to her husband, Terrance. “I’ve decided on Markia.”
It was almost as if Danielle’s face glowed from the love she possessed for her baby girl. The infant lay still and quiet as her mother probed her entire body then grabbing her hands and feet to count each finger and toe; seeing if there were any noticeable deformities. None were present. The nurse looked over to Terrace with a smile.
“Go ahead Papa,” she encouraged. “She’s your princess too.”