Summary

The story, "Semper Fidelis" features an unnamed 18-year-old woman who marries Max, a retired Marine of 50. It is many years later and Max is terminally ill. Max wants to watch her slowly undress before she lays on the cot next to his deathbed. He wants to know details about where she went, what clothes she changed into, to whom she spoke, and with whom she had a sexual encounter. Although she has not had sex with anyone, he continues on and on insisting that she did and that she tell him every detail. On the last night of his life, she pretends to go out, but really just has tea in the kitchen with the nurse, Dawn, then send her home early. Upon returning to Max’s room that night, she decides to risk lying in bed with him, trying not...