Horribly abused by his mother, Van eventually goes in search of his father. When he finds him, his life is radically changed. His father works for the FBI, and has contacts to a covert group, run by the Old Man, that goes after the worst of the worst criminals. Van is recruited to join both -- and does. Van handles every job he's sent on with cold efficiency, letting nothing stand in his way of gaining the information he seeks and stopping his foes. Eventually, he's offered a team of his own within the Old Man's organization. He accepts, with one caveat -- none of them can be female. Because of his mother, the only woman he has ever trusted is his handler, Makie. His attitude takes a hit when he meets Ginna, a cop, while on a job for the Old Man. When it's over, much to the shock of everyone involved, he requests that she be added to his team if she's willing -- which she is, as long as the organization can promise to keep her young son safe while she's on assignments. Ginna fits in well with the team, and though she is appalled at some of the tactics Van uses to gain information, she finds herself attracted to him. Can she break through the walls he's erected around his emotions? If so, then what? Only time will tell.

From the award-winning author Matt Dymerski comes a connected anthology of thirty stories that delve deep into the existential agony of our technological era. Tales told with a unique blend of science fiction and horror explore what it means to be human and vulnerable in the face of threats larger than we can comprehend. Headlining this anthology is A SHATTERED LIFE, winner of Story of the Month for January 2018, and 7th ranked story of all time on reddit.com/r/nosleep at the time of this publication. A Shattered Life is the story of a man with a very unique affliction: something horrible and unknown has broken his life into pieces around him, and he must find a way to stitch his days back together before time runs out. Following that are twenty-seven tales woven into the fabric of the life of one man as he grows up and struggles to find his purpose while the evil of μ¬ßμ slowly spreads throughout the world. His is a land filled with horrifying creatures rising on one side and society steadily going mad on the other. From the author who brought you the Best Series of 2012 and the Best Story of 2017, A SHATTERED LIFE AND OTHER STORIES will leave your heart pounding and your mind questioning everything you've been told.

What happens to one's soul when a child dies? A moving story of denial and depression taking the reader inside the complexities of a marriage shattered by the devastating loss of their only child. Kim, a psychotherapist and Mark, an emotionally distant actuary build layers of protective defenses around them in order to survive. But when Kim receives a diagnosis of cancer, her unhealed pain rises to the surface. Kim embarks on an exploration of her Midwestern ancestors to find answers to the "why me" question. Starting with a diphtheria epidemic in the late 1800s to her current practice as a psychotherapist, she seeks understanding of the person she has become. Following Kim and Mark through doctor's visits, chemo drips, long nights, and even longer days, the story chronicles the grueling process of chemotherapy, as well as the complicated dance of a marriage in crisis. As Kim's treatment progresses, so too does her relationship with Mark, and the layers of emotional pain begin to peel away.

Shattered Lives bears witness to the lives of children who have experienced abuse and neglect, and highlights the effects of early traumatic episodes. Chapters take the form of letters to a child capturing their life experiences, hugely impacted by sexual abuse, parental substance misuse and loss, leading to feelings of shame, and worthlessness.

In Rebuilding Shattered Lives, James A. Chu, MD, describes a proven approach to the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic and dissociative disorders developed at the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Program at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Drawing on his extensive empirical research and more than a decade's clinical experience specializing in treating survivors of severe abuse, Dr. Chu also offers valuable insights into all the major areas of traumarelated symptomatology and provides the most detailed explanation of dissociative theory currently in print. And, with the help of numerous vignettes and case examples, he clearly illustrates common clinical dilemmas encountered when dealing with survivors of severe abuse as well as the most effective techniques for resolving them. Rebuilding Shattered Lives is an important working resource for mental health workers of all levels of experience. Throughout, the writing style is clear, and complex theories are explained with an emphasis on how they provide the conceptual basis for a rational, responsible, and safe approach to treatment.

When your partner betrays, what are the first steps to picking up the pieces of your shattered heart? Many unsuspecting people wake up every day to discover their loved one, the one person whom they are supposed to trust completely, has been living a life of lies and deceit because they suffer from a disease-sex addiction. This is a disease shrouded in secrecy and shame. This is your go-to-guide for what to do when you discover your partner is a sex addict. Each chapter is based on frequently asked questions by partners such as: Should I Stay or Should I Go? Is This Going to Get Better? How Do I Set Boundaries and Keep Myself Safe? and What Should I Tell the Kids?

This book takes an unflinching look at the human rights violations of U.S. drug policy, based on the award-winning photo exhibit, Human Rights and the Drug War. In the name of the U.S. Drug War, families are being torn apart, children orphaned, and homes and property seized as thousands of first-time, non-violent drug offenders are thrown into prisons, serving harsh sentences of 10, 20 years and longer. Learn how we got here, the costs and the statistics, and what can still be done to bring a just end to what has become America's longest war.