Oliver Benjamin
the forehead. He wished that he could spend more time with his
daughter, but lately business had been booming and when he wasn’t
flying all over the country, he was in the office sixteen hours a day. It
was okay, though, because his wife had taken a special interest in the
child, frequently bringing Theresa into her office and making sure to
have her along if any pictures were to be taken. And with Lila’s
entrance into the race for Senator, there were loads of pictures to be
taken. Lila was finally giving her what she had been denied in the
first few years of her life—a mother. Dennis couldn’t be happier.
One morning, very early, Dennis peered out at the sunrise over
the adopted city of Washington D.C. he now called home. For the
first time in his life, he felt as if he had arrived. He had suffered
immeasurably, but managed to persevere. Now he had a beautiful
wife and daughter that he loved very much, a thriving business that
not only lined his pockets, but did a world of good for his people, and
he had the respect of his peers. What more could one man want from
life? He stood on his balcony and sighed. Dennis Guzman couldn’t
help but feel that, like this city, his life had emerged as a massive,
gleaming fortress that had finally been able to tower high above the
festering swamp it was built on top of.
And then it sank.
One afternoon Dennis was able to leave work early and decided
to surprise his wife in her office with some flowers and champagne.
This was nothing new. There were many times when they had made
love on the huge oak table in her soundproof conference room while
high-powered politicians waited impatiently outside to discuss
important matters. He told her secretaries not to announce his
presence, and when they told him that there was no one in her office
save her and their daughter, he tiptoed into the spacious oak-paneled
office. There would be no love-making with Theresa around, but he
was happy just to spend some time with his women. Initially he was
surprised to find the office empty, but seeing the closed door of the
conference room, he carefully grasped and silently turned the
doorknob. Lila had forgotten to lock it. Dennis Guzman peered into
the room, and ultimately into the dark corners of his past.
Neither Lila nor Theresa noticed him standing motionless in the
doorway. At first, Dennis didn’t know what to make of the images
that were meeting his eyes. It was beyond reason to accept what he
was seeing. He stood immobilized by anguish and terror as he
realized that his beloved wife was doing to his cherished daughter
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