This was a very intense story, but really well done. You portrayed Eileen's grim, grey life and her twisted relationship with her son wonderfully and the ending paragraph was just a punch in the gut. Really great story, however heartbreaking. I also liked all the touches from real life: the tv shows, the name brand foods...and was highly amused to read that Severus's favourite band was The Stranglers. Thanks for putting "No More Heroes" in my head, Mystery Author.