Peter's Tale

     My name is Peter Valhalla.  My old head shrink told me I should keep a diary, so here I am.  My wife doesn't even know I used to have a shrink.  She didn't even know me that well when we got married.  She knew I loved her, and that I'd promised to be with her forever.  Promises are tricky things.  I do love her, though.  I love her laugh, and her beautiful hair.  I love how she insists on cooking for us, although all she seems to make is grilled cheese sandwiches.

     I'm a cop. It would seem a strange choice to anyone who knew the old me.  The thing is, I know the criminal mind.  I understand the dark road a man travels when he decides to leave the civilized world behind.  There's always a reason.  Sometimes it's just plain money.  Money is a useful thing to have, damned useful.  Only a fool or a wealthy man claims there's no need.  Tell me how great poverty is when your beloved sister is injured in a car crash and your family goes in debt for decades to care for her.  I've seen it.

    There's also the power trip.  These days, lots of people into power and control get into politics or business. Sometimes there's only a couple of degrees of separation between a mayor, a CEO, and a common crook.  Sometimes there's no separation at all

     So anyway, in the personal vein, I'm a dad now.  We just gave birth to a baby boy.  We named him Paul,  after my late grandfather.  He looks a little bit like my grandfather too, all scowling and wrinkled.

     Not much else to say.  I think I'm doing well.  I don't have the night terrors like I used to.  I go to bed at night, and I wake up and go about my day.  I don't even panic when I hear kids shrieking outdoors playing.  I think I'm gonna make it.  My old therapist would be proud of me.  She'd probably be a little upset with me for quitting therapy, though.  I promised I'd find a new therapist once I moved here, but I never did.  I just want to put the past behind me.  I want a new life.  I don't want anyone here judging me based on the man I once was.

    I'm not here to cause trouble.  I'm here to keep the people of this town safe from people like I used to be.