The Day I Kissed An Older Man

The man then said, "It's ridiculous. Why must everything be measured in terms of benefits? What about the memories I've made here? Aren't they important?"

Rita bit her lower lip and felt her cheeks burn with shame for her blind faith. She had assumed that money was the solution to all problems. She was always going on and on about Sherman being a profit- minded businessman, but living in the same privileged family environment had tainted her with that mindset. She always felt as if money could solve anything.

"I grew up on this land. I finally got my house when I was over 30, but I was forced to leave after only a few years. Now everyone thinks I've gone mad, sleeping around on this muddy ground. But this was my home before those developers came. Why did I have to leave?"

Rita fell silent at his questions, unable to provide an answer. She believed that the land must be profitable in some way if Sherman was interested in it too.

interests and family would be just

lead to your current situation?"

bury himself in those beautiful memories, but there was no point immersing too long in something that no longer existed. Reality was cruel,

Cole. Everything was

choked tears as he recounted his story to Rita. He did not know why he was divulging all this to a newbie reporter.

was express her regret. She finally understood why he had been so disinclined about speaking to reporters. His pain was evident in

relief after sharing his burden. He wiped away