Change came like a semi with bad brakes hurtling down a mountain road.

Depression and fanaticism were kindred spirits, Ivan realized during the rally.

Away from the party with its peels of gay laughter echoing through the mansion, he sat for a moment in quiet contemplation wondering if he'd created a persona or a cage.

"You're like Beethoven unable to hear his greatest works performed," Elizabeth told me, "you're deaf to the beauty you're capable of, but unlike the great composer you can do something about it."

The food was exceptional, the atmosphere stunning, but her date, pallid in every sense, had her wishing she'd just stayed home, where this very minute she could be eating takeout Chinese and channel surfing in her pajamas.

The unprovoked attacks against the protestors continued unabated but only spurred on more everyday people to pour into the streets and join them.

With death sitting on his chest grinning at him, Donny realized all the money in the world couldn't save him.