Where Will You Go When Your Skin Cannot Contain You
By William Gay, first published in Tin House
A newly released addict sets off to avenge the murder of an ex- love.
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Plot Summary
Leonard, 'The Jeepster', is newly released from prison. He is on a mission to avenge his ex, Aimee. Both a drug addict and alcoholic, Leonard, armed with a gun, goes in search of beer and answers at a Texaco station nearby. Leonard is looking for an employee who loaned Escue, Aimee's murderer, the gas money he needed to drive to Aimee's work on the day of the murder. After Leonard finds a different counterman working at the station, he speeds off in search of drugs. Leonard ends up at his friend Emile's house. Emile, out on bond after a recent police raid of his meth lab, doesn't have drugs or money to offer Leonard. Emile warns Leonard not to go see Aimee's dad, and Leonard confesses he just wants to see Aimee's car, now covered in her blood. Emile, disturbed by the confession, kicks him out. In a flashback, Leonard recounts Aimee's murder. Aimee arrived at Leonard's one morning asking to borrow his gun; after Escue, her now ex-boyfriend, threatened her life, Aimee was afraid he would shoot her after work. Leonard won't give her the gun despite Aimee's insistence, but instead offers to pick her up from the Quikmart where she works. Aimee agrees to the plan and asks to spend the night at Leonard's. Leonard tells her she's welcome as long as she likes. Later that day, when Aimee arrives at work, Escue shoots her twice in the face and kills her instantly. Escue then turns the gun on himself. Leonard, now in the present moment, suddenly starving, goes to a diner but can't bring himself to eat the food he ordered. He instead drives out to an abandoned farmhouse to drink and sleep. A short while later, Leonard drives to the funeral home, threatens the undertaker with his gun, and takes Aimee's body with him back to the farmhouse. Deputies, along with Aimee's father, show up to arrest Leonard. Aimee's father attacks Leonard and begins to beat him ruthlessly.
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