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Eleventh Hour
   Quinn pulled the small wooden chair closer to his keyboard, watching the old monitor scroll and jump through its colorful “boot-up”.  No “state-of-the-art” computer here.  But, he loved it as much as the first deep inhale in the mountains on a spring morning.  Funny, he thought, thinking of this as his “open spaces” retreat.  It was, of course, exactly that.
    As soon as his screen flashed the icon, Quinn clicked on his portal to the “real” world, and then highlighted the name which had grown to become such a vital part of so many lives across the intricate, far reaching web known as AOL.  “STRYTLR99” was now connecting to a world that he loved, and one that welcomed him, and loved him back.  For those few special women who had grown closest to him, “buddy lists” here and there around the country announced his arrival, bringing smiles to their faces and a quickened pulse to their breasts.  But, they were not alone.  Quinn’s own handsome face broke into its crooked grin as he quickly recognized the names of several of his dearest “wives”, and immediately felt the welcome rush of blood to his loins.
    How long had “story teller” been alive, he wondered?  It seemed like years... a lifetime really.  But, he now realized, in truth Quinn had lived as STRYTLR99 only two short months.  Before his fortunate meeting with Jacob, and the subsequent access to this old computer, Quinn’s life was mundane, his only escape through his voracious appetite for reading, and occasional amateur attempts at his own prose.  But since then, he had spent every moment allowed him to connect to this new world, and to experience feelings and emotions that were so intense, so passionate, that the short time he had been STRYTLR99 had given him a life that any person, anywhere, would gladly have traded with never a second thought.
    His reflections were suddenly interrupted by a succession of soft bells ringing as several “IMs” popped up on his screen.  Quinn quickly typed a greeting to the first, “hi hon...brb”, and then in order, typed his replies to the other two, telling them that he was temporarily tied up and would IM them as soon as he was free.  It was always Quinn’s practice to “chat” with one, and only one, of his wives at one time.  Any sharing of time and singular attention was not just rude, it was cheating ... an infidelity that his marriages would never allow.  If he was to communicate with any one of his special lovers, then he would give them everything that he had...his mind, his soul, his love ... as he knew they had always given him no less.
    But today was to be a very special one ...for Quinn, who knew it would be his final chance to enjoy the closeness and sensuality of each of his dear life partners, and for each of them, who would not know that his last words to them today would be the end ...the final chapter of their own short, passionate affair with STRYTLR.  Each, of course, had another life.  Each had husbands, children, houses to care for, jobs to go to, friends to laugh and cry with.  Each, had an earthly existence that was at times rewarding, at times loving, at times even interesting.  But, like Quinn, none had a life that could so completely draw out of them the warm sensuality, sensitivity, and passion that lay dormant beneath a facade...a cloak that the lives each was destined to live required.  Yes, he thought, that is our magic.  We each are nothing special alone, but together we have discovered the intimacies of “undressing” in front of each other, and our passion unbridled at the nakedness we enjoy both watching and showing.
    “... whats up today Kate?”, Quinn typed to LVRGRL6321.
    “... u as always..”, she responded.
    “ r u stuck in the snow in ohio, or basking in the sun at your place in st croix?’, Kate asked.
    “ st croix, hon.... laying here on deck, Thinkpad humming...wishing u were here beside...on top...under me”
    “hmmmmmmm.... cuming right down, Quinn”
    “ i’ve been thinking of all the special moments i’ve had with u”
    “yes...........?”
    “ how every touch of my fingers....my tongue... was more real to me than any I have ever experienced in
real life”, Quinn typed, and felt his penis grow with the truth of his words. 
    “ I feel the same way, Quinn .... it may be my own fingers that touch and tickle, but it is your fingers and
tongue that make every inch of me tingle”, Kate responded, and squeezed her thighs together as she felt the wetness flow.
    “ but today, hon, I dont have the time to spend telling you, and “hearing” you, as we undress and bring each other the sensual feelings we love”. “today is special”, Quinn continued.  “today i’m sending you another story”

    And so, with each of his most precious lovers...his wives... Quinn sent his final IM’s, and spent his final special moments reflecting with each how important and intimate their past months had been for him.  Oddly, there was no sadness in his words, as there was no sadness in his heart.  Quinn felt immense joy and a peaceful satisfaction as he signed off with his final  “...later”, and hit “SEND”, instantly firing his final story across invisible wires into the email slots of his wives.  Exiting out, and shutting down the old PC, Quinn slid back his old chair and slowly bent over to lightly kiss the darkened screen of the still warm monitor.
    “You ready, Quinn”, whispered the guard.
    “Totally”, answered Quinn with that same crooked smile the old guard had come to love.
    And he gently held Quinn’s elbow, slowly walking beside his shackled friend as he shuffled down the long corridor, both ignoring the small crowd gathered outside the windows, sadly marching in circles, the heart felt messages on their signs too late to prevent tonight’s long awaited tragedy.