Portrait of a Victory

by Joseph Cusumano

About the Author: Joseph Cusumano is a physician living with his wife and two cats in St. Louis.

Excerpt

Paul found Giselle lovely in every way that a young man can find a young woman lovely, but when they arrived at the cabin, he stuck to his plan and handcuffed her to the metal bed frame. Her stuporous condition made restraints unnecessary, but he was determined not to repeat any mistakes. Aside from removing her shoes and helping her into bed, Paul didn’t touch Giselle. After covering her with a sheet, he left the bedroom and reclined on a couch in the main room of the cabin.

Many hours later, Giselle awoke to a natural cadence, one she cherished above all others, that of ocean waves striking a shore. Her home being well inland, she normally took delight in listening to wind stirring the leaves of large trees or to rain tapping out its code on her windows.

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