A short phone call, or an even briefer text was all she needed to know that she was wanted; to affirm her existence. A shower and a quick drink – an intake of alcohol to loosen lips and deaden the senses – was all the preparation that was required. Perhaps a comb dragged through the hair; perhaps a quick spray of scent; maybe even new underwear. Nothing more was necessary.
He would come and then come again before the long hand had swept fifteen discarded minutes from the floor as if they were flakes of dead skin. Words were never more than pleasantries, never more than perfunctory. They hung between she and him like an embarrassment, squirming as if they had some other place to be; as if they wanted to be used for some purpose other than merely to fill the brief gaps between hands and flesh.
They moved clumsily, aggressively, drifting in and out of sync with one another until an uneasy climax planted a full stop between them. There was a moment’s silence, as each felt the other would pass comment: but neither ever did.
He would collect the clothes that he, in his urgency, had strewn on the bed, couch, chair or floor. Slipping on his shoes he would watch her briefly as she lay, or dressed, or stared, and then stand.
He closed the door behind him: he, on one side, breathing heavily, either in tiredness or disappointment, she, on the other, sated and hollow in equal measure.
© All original writing copyright Chris Nelson 2000-2019
Terrific, Chris. And a departure from your norm!
Thanks, Bruce – I’m pleased that you enjoyed this.
There is a moment’s silence when I read you. Love your prose, Chris. Great read, different. I like different.
Thank you, that’s pleasing to hear, and I concur: a little change can only be a good thing (I hope!).
For sure. In both writing and life.
Leaving both of them, drained of energy, with nothing else between them, that, is how it usually is, sex, without the connection, the intimacies, of the feelings of love first…
You are, of course, absolutely correct…is there any point without intimate connection? Thank you, I appreciate your feedback.
Great piece Chris. The last sentence hits like a sledgehammer.
That’s great to hear, Mark – I had hoped that it would! Thanks for that.
Very good Chris. That last sentence totally made this piece go from a ten to a twenty. So very good.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed this.
Love the power and the eroticism of this piece, Chris. Brilliant writing!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I’m delighted that you enjoyed this – sad though that I’m sure that this is a commonplace occurrence.
My pleasure and, yes, I also think it is.
What a sad place to be, and so many are living that very dull nightmare… almost unaware it is a nightmare. Very good writing indeed Chris! 🙂
Thank you, Suzy…and I agree, such a situation would be a living nightmare.