Socially Distanced: A Quarantine Novella

“Okay.”

“I’m here. I got you.”

“Thank you, Sean. You have no idea what this means to me.”

I tighten my fingers as much as I can, wishing I could do more, say more. I remember my mother’s words when I left home for college—“No matter where you are, we are never truly apart.”

“Kendra?”

“Yeah?”

“It doesn’t matter how far away we are. We’re not apart. We’re never apart.”

Chapter Five: Day 164

I climb up on the rail, lean out as far as I can, and my fingers meet with Kendra’s. She closes her eyes for a second as our skin meets and smiles faintly.

“Good morning,” I say.

“Good morning to you, too.”

After a minute, we both climb back down, and I toss Kendra a cigarette.

She’s been living next to me for over a month now, and we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well. Aside from the mutual masturbation sessions, we’ve talked about most everything from our families to our favorite childhood vacations to our taste in music. I’ve heard about all her studies in Boston, and I’ve told her all about my work as an engineer.

But it’s the touch—that simple daily touch of our fingers—that’s made all the difference.

“Nearly time for new luxury delivery,” Kendra says.

“Late again, but yeah. Should be here soon.”

“Did you get cigs again?”

“Nah. Even with you smoking some of them, I still have enough for a while.”

“What did you get?”

“Whiskey.” I glance over at her, feeling strangely embarrassed. “That’s going to be a little harder to share though.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Kendra says quietly.

“What? You have a container with a good seal that we can toss back and forth?”

“No, but I do have an idea.”

“An idea?”

“Yeah.” She looks off into the distance, not offering any more information.

“Is that all you’re going to say?”

“Until I know for sure, yes.”

“And when will that be?”

“Not until our next luxury arrives.”

“That’s only a couple of days away.”