Another Time, Another Place
“How could you stoop so low and do this to me?”
“As it turns out, seems I did the right thing. You’ll be fine as long as you follow my instructions.”
Steven hated to admit it, but he was scared. However, the “man” in him wouldn’t allow it to show.
“What do I have to do to get this shit out of me?” Steven asked.
“Finish wrapping your arm, then check your Verizon personal email account. Detailed instructions are there.”
Ariel watched him watch her back away. She went into the guest bedroom, grabbed the packed suitcase, car keys and left the home she’d known for years without saying another word. Steven’s attention moved from the care of his arm toward the sound of the front door being closed. He stared from the bathroom into the empty bedroom. Suddenly, the house no longer felt like home. Suddenly, he had surpassed lonely, fell hard on alone. Suddenly, he remembered the need to check his email.
SIXTEEN
The doorbell woke April from her slumber. She had fallen asleep after her self-induced orgasm and had a dream about being liberated. She ran toward the stairs and yelled, “just a minute,” as she dashed by the front door. She sprinted upstairs to the bedroom, and returned in seconds to answer the call. Somehow, as she opened the front door, she sensed that she had already left. She paused, shook off the notion that she would always be connected to the vision of herself.
The door opened to the sight of her personal trainer. As usual, he flashed a bright perfect smile, except this time, the gold-outlined front tooth was a distraction. He wore a muscle shirt too small for his well-defined physique, and biker shorts too tight that made his pelvic area scream “Look at me.” He entered the house, greeted her with a customary kiss on the cheek and squeeze of her pinky finger.
“Sunshine, how are you feeling today?” the trainer asked.
“Liberated,” April spoke and smiled bright as the sun.
The trainer wrinkled his forehead in confusion. April acknowledged his stunned look as she equated her comment as having the same effect when someone responds, “I’m blessed.” Experience had taught her that it stunned most people. “I’m great. Really great,” April spoke.
For the first time in months, there was an awkward silence between them.
“So,” the trainer blurted to end the strange moment, “have you worked on the latest things I’ve shown you?”
“No, because the pushups exercise would be difficult with this thing on my hand,” she responded and held her hand up.
“What happened to your hand?” he asked as he grabbed her wrist and kissed the bandage.
“The truth is too unbelievable, so I’ll just say glass shattered in my hand.”
“Poor thing. How can I make you feel better?” he asked as he pulled her near and pressed his body against hers.
Before the lightning strike, April might have draped her arms around him and responded with, “Ravish me.” Today, however, was different. Her arms remained at her side, dictated by the notion that she rather not be touched.
“Okay, I give,” the trainer stated. “What’s up with you today? I feel the cold-shoulder treatment.”
“My dear friend, please don’t consider my action as mistreatment. I’m a changed person; the old me is in another time, in an
other place,” she responded. April captured his full attention with her eyes. “Therefore, in essence, I’m a different person who’s focused on doing the right thing.”
“I’d guess by your ‘doing the right thing,’ the hot, steamy sex,” he spoke sultrily, “has to end.”
April inhaled deeply, exhaled as slowly as the intake had been. “You are intuitive,” she responded. “Things are different now.”
“Different?” the trainer said a little put back. “Mr. Virgin…I mean, Virgil, has his dick grown five inches longer?”
April gazed at him with hard, cold eyes. She was appalled by the belittling question.
“Whatever the case,” she responded, “big or small, our extracurricular activities have ended.”
“You know you’re going to miss…how does he say it, the thunder from down under.”
“That may be true, but I no longer require sexual services from you. Besides, I told you his pet phrase in confidence. It was not meant to be used against me. As a matter of fact, the personal training services can end also. I’ve learned enough from you to maintain my fitness absent your assistance.”
“Seriously?” he responded puzzled.