Throughout this collection is an array of characters, young and old, who deal with the struggles of life in their own distinctive way. Some of these tales are honed with a psychological edge and sprinkled with a dash of dark humor, while others cross over into the realms of tragedy, coming of age, and the paranormal. Diseased - When a resident of a mental institution has a nervous breakdown over the death of his beloved ducks, the head nurse steps in and reveals to him that everything is not as it seems. Ripple in the Moonlight - Three young men are heading to the lake for a fun-filled night of camping and fishing. When poor decisions are made and the envelope is pushed, their outdoor experience takes a dark turn, and life as they know it will never be the same. Under the Willow Tree - A ridiculing wife causes her husband to find tranquility in his beloved willow tree, only for him to discover that he and the tree have more in common than he ever realized. The Old Writer and the Hungry Squirrels - Ian McAllister is an old writer who has lost his creative drive. He wants desperately to regain his prolific status among the world's best-selling authors. When his muse returns and presents him the ability to write for an exchange of his soul, a resurrected career looks hopeful for the aging scribe. However, his newly found inspiration has a grim effect on him, and the rest of the world. Our Time Together - While sitting at his father's deathbed, a man reminisces about a hunting trip that he had taken with his dad, and hero, many years before. It is then he comes to understand just how meaningful that hunting trip really was. The Good Neighbor - A brittle and downtrodden man who cannot get ahead in life contemplates a neighborhood massacre. Kate's Funeral - Kate Longley is an intelligent, self-assured young woman who finds herself in the middle of her own funeral service. Instead of questioning her death, she is more concerned with why her boyfriend has yet to come and bid her a final farewell. Kate also discovers that in death, much like in life, there is a lot to learn and big decisions to make. With time running out, she hopes the choices that she makes turn out to be the right ones. Fading Jump Shot - Kent Weber loves the game of basketball. The next chapter in his life is to play at the college level. However, when he discovers his parents are divorcing, his passion for the game quickly fades away. Feeling abandoned, Kent turns to a drug-fueled life of self-destruction that leads him down a path of dark and life-changing consequences. Best for the Family - While on a cross-country bus trip, an elderly woman reveals a dark story from her past that tells how lies, humiliation, and murder stripped a young girl of her youthful innocence. Secret Lovers - In this spicy tale, a lonely, unloved wife seeks her desires elsewhere.