Micah Thaxter has a problem -- one scary, inconvenient problem. His shadow wants him dead and isn’t shy about it.
On the plus side, it’s not his time to die and Scary Gary is always there to carry him back to the land of the living. Gary is far too pale, his black cloak a bit out of fashion, and his scythe quite terrifying, but he’s still one of the most beautiful men Micah has ever seen.
Micah may be stuck with a homicidal shadow, but perhaps there’s a way to keep Gary around too. His job escorting souls keeps him busy, but since Micah has already died once today, Gary’s there. So what’s the harm in offering him a cup of tea?
Acknowledgements As always there are people behind a story other than the one who wrote it. I don’t think most understand just how much time is invested even in a short story like this one, but those other than me who have invested their time are Amy Spector, Lourenza Adlem Gabi Cervenka, Jean Malherbe, Carole Reid, Susan Lewis and Leonie Duncan. And I’m very grateful they took the time to help me out. You’re my superheroes! Micah Thaxter pressed his back against the cold brick wall, making sure no part of him was visible outside the shadow of the building. The air was thick with the stench of urine and the moldering trash that littered the alley. His heart was stuck in his throat, but no amount of swallowing made it drop to his chest where it belonged. How could he have been this f***