title: A Sprinkling of Lesbian Short Stories
author:  Q. Kelly 
description: Fact One: Q. Kelly likes corny jokes. If you have any good ones, send them her way! Fact Two: Q. Kellys favorite color is purple, but her writing is gray. Life is not black and white. She often writes about issues and characters where there is no "right" answer. Fact Three: Q. Kelly is weird. She likes being weird.
zlib_text: THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS
  
  
  KELLY GAY
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _For my grandparents:_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Herman & Mary Keaton_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Alfred & Joan Hogan_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Thelma Dear_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  9
  
  
  The bell chimed over the door as I entered, braced a hand against the glass to
  slip the pumps back on, and then limped inside where I slid gratefully into an
  empty booth.
  
  
  
  
  
  _God, I hurt!_
  
  
  
  
  
  It took a minute to regain my composure and take stock. My elbow ached, and
  the scratches and road-rub along my shoulder, hip, and thigh burned, but not
  nearly as bad as my ankle, which was growing hotter and achier by the second.
  Pulling in my leg, I saw the skin was swelling, but not enough to indicate I’d
  sprained it.
  
  
  “Hey, miss, you got to order to take up a booth!”
  
  
  
  
  
  _Yeah, yeah._
  
  
  
  
  
  Quickly, I smoothed my hair and straightened my shirt before standing. Every
  muscle protested as I searched the bag for my wallet, pulling out three bucks
  and some change. At least the counter wasn’t too far away. Wincing, I shuffled