I nodded with genuine synthetic sympathy.

Could this be the Apocalypse ?

I stood up. It was all too much. I could not even meet my own expectations, and to be asked to deal with all theirs too was suffocating.

I waved to everybody. Some of them even waved back. They knew me, had seen me go by before, always cheerful, a big hello for everybody. He was such a nice man. Very friendly. I can’t believe he did those horrible things . . .

Detective, I don't know where the boyfriend is, really," I said. And it was true, considering tide, current, and the habits of marine scavengers. -Dexter

Getting yelled at by a furious woman should be treated as a semiformal occasion.

The faster it ran away from me. And I found myself reasoning that perhaps one more beer would unlock the doors of perception.