Bird Came Down — Chris Lewis Gibson

BIRD CAME DOWNJoey came to me crying cause somebody hurt him.They're bound to, Felix replied. He's a good boy.I wanted to kill them. I feel violent all the time. If it's a jungle out there, and if I'm a jungle creature, and you're a jungle creature. If... we're so wild, then who's going to protect you from my claws?Who's going to protect you from mine?Scott said nothing at first. At last he said: We'll have to protect ourselves from each other.Once Felix Owens loved a man, and once he let that man go and moved through life, counting on men for the pleasure they provided and nothing more. When Scott Flowers reappears after several years' absence, with an impending divorce, a history of violence, two small children, and a blackout drinking habit, neither he nor the sexually adventurous Felix are ideal for each other. Slowly, they approach each other again, hoping that the years and their own actions have not damaged them too much to make some sort of life.