With every day that went by without hearing from Devin, Joseph wandered further and far from the years of his youth. It was an unplanned decision though one of choice--made by Devin in leaving the city for the coast when he was nineteen. A few years ago, he came back.

Joseph could handle the daily explosions of problems that went off as if set by some dark hand in the night and timed to go off in the morning. His job was middle management. His marriage was a similar arrangement.

What he couldn't handle well anymore were the calls from his brother.