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A knock on the door interrupts my quiet solitude. Curiosity is really the only motivation that compels me to move off the couch and answer the door. After a few painful movements I’m off the couch and on my way to the door. As I fumble with the keys I give an impatient command to the stranger to hold on.

  A flurry of words make their way through the door “Hurry up you cripple!”

  Ha I think to myself, instantly recognising the female’s voice, and when I open the door I find that my suspicions are true. A tall blonde, curvy female is standing on the porch. “Maree, so kind of you to drop by with your words of endearment” I say. “Why didn’t you text me back” she replies with a somewhat disappointed look on her face. Just as I’m about to reply she interrupts me “So are you going to invite me in?”

  I smile and awkwardly shuffle to one side, bow my head a little and gesture with my arm that she may enter. She gives me a cheeky smile and steps inside. Without warning she wraps her arms around me and gives me a hug. “You need to be more careful, Nate” she whispers in my ear “hmm I Know” I answer. The smell of her hair engulfs my senses and overcomes the pain her tight hug is causing me. I’ve always described her as having a hippie demeanour to her personality which is why I always found myself drawn to her. In summer she always wears long flowing dresses and she has a very natural beauty. This hug seems to be going on a little too long so I begin to release my arms from around her. “Would you like a hot drink?” Not wanting to make eye contact she answers “I’d love one”.

  “So what’s been happening with you Maree? How’s life?’’ I ask as I hobble into the kitchen and turn on the jug, “Tea or coffee?”

  “Coffee please, milk and a sugar, thanks” she answers.

  As I’m preparing the cups I poke my head back through into the lounge to find Maree sitting on the couch with a somewhat distant look on her face.

  “What’s the matter?” I ask softly. “It’s Dave” she replies and then pauses for a moment longer “Don’t worry about it” she says while shaking her head “I don’t want to have to burden you with my problems when you’re the one who is in need of the attention”.

  “Don’t worry about me, I have enough time to sit around here and feel sorry for myself. It would be good to talk about something other than how I am.” She looks at me with her big brown eyes as if she needs more reassurance. “Come on, something is eating away at ya” I say.

  I hand her a mug of coffee. “Careful it’s hot” I warn.

  She cups the mug with both hands, stares into the steam and takes a deep breathe “Like I said it’s Dave, I just feel as if we are growing further and further apart, especially over these last few months. As soon as he gets home from work he’s straight onto the computer and playing some stupid war game with the guys that he has just spent all day at work with. I try and talk to him but all he wants to do is hide away in the dark playing games. It’s just so frustrating that he won’t talk to me. Every day, it’s the same routine. All I can get from him is the same mundane conversation over dinner, then I won’t see him until he comes to bed. I just don’t know what to do”.

  I reply with my usual nonsensical, irrational solution. “You could just put a hammer through the computer screen or wear some sexy lingerie”.

  “Seriously, Nate” she angrily replies.

  “Shit that would get my attention I suppose you need to tell him that you really need to talk to him, but do this before he gets a chance to continue developing his ass mould on his computer chair.”

  She kind of chokes a little on her coffee and laughs at my answer.

  “Look you two have been together for years now, so make sure you talk to him before it turns toxic. I can guarantee that he won’t have the slightest clue that you are feeling like this. He probably thinks nothing is wrong”.

  I can see her mulling my words over in her head.

  In a quiet voice she answers “Yea, I know. Sorry to pester you with my problems, I just didn’t know who to talk to”.

  “It’s no problem at all. You know I’m always happy to listen” I reply.

  “Well I should be going. I have to go and get ready for our netball game at five. You should come down and watch” says Maree.

  As much as I’d like to see her and her friends jump around in tight clothing I decline. “Maybe another time, I’m still a little fragile”.

  “Okay” she replies looking a little disappointed. “Maybe another time”.

  I walk her out to the front door. As I open it for her our eyes meet. Our small entrance puts us in unusually close proximity. She brushes a loose bit of her blonde hair behind her ear while saying “I’ll guess see I’ll see you later, look after yourself”

  “You too” I reply as she walks down the steps. I close the door, my heart is almost in my throat, what the hell do I make of this?

  Chapter Ten