DAWN WILL RISE 

By Tessa Harvey

    Mark was not happy. He was reduced to a cramped, half-broken sofa with a tattered thin rug for a bed. 
    At first his pals had greeted him with words of praise and affirmation, pats on the back, drinks ordered. When it came to paying, they looked remorseful, shrugging. It was a habit they had developed well, but even he was no longer interesting. What he was supposedly guarding had never been made clear.
    Merchandise, Internet business transactions were two of the stock replies, but as Mark grew uneasy, this was noticed.
    Dark looks were cast his way. Finally the youngest member, a hard-looking young woman, drew him aside while the others were loading a truck with heavy boxes.
    "You have a family, don't yez?" When Mark nodded, she said "Get out while yez can. They know where yez live. Think about yer kids, selfish one."
    That stung. The fact was Mark did not look at himself inside mirrors. Only ones reflecting a handsome bloke - an achiever. Except he wasn't. Reality suddenly smacked him hard. What to do?

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