“I understand. Free porn —-
One day–another year had passed, or two–he found she had changed jobs again. “Hello?”
“Carol?”
“. …Yes?” Cool and noncommittal. I hope your pressures, whatever they are, are soon gone, and I hope you have a long and happy life. He also left her messages on her office phone at night–on her birthday, Mother’s Day, the anniversary of the day they met–but he never expected an answer, told her so, and got none. She had known that from the first–he believed in full disclosure–but she said it didn’t matter. I’ll see you soon.”
But as he stood on his balcony and watched her go–this time, she looked up and waved–he knew that he would never see her again. Each spurt felt like a gallon, long and hard, and there were many of them,
