Today he has made his mistake. He wanted to know something else. And he was willing to stop the future for the now questions. He wanted to know what was going on. He was yearning for something else. It started out innocently enough. It started out in religion. It started moving to philosophy. It always remained an intellectual discourse. It always remained intelligent and sophisticated. That is where the trap was. The conversations. Somewhere in the words. Maddie was at the wrong place at the wrong time. She had a fixed idea on coming over, and now she sat looking at him. She smiled again. This time more open and inviting. She glanced at the clock on the microwave in the kitchen, and wondered if the evening was a complete loss.  Straight into an embankment it felt like it was going. A tree stopping it on the other side. Her kids were with their dad. If nothing happened tonight she would have to try again in two weeks.

Conversation and sex with Hugh had gone on for about 5 months. She was attracted to it, he was attracted to it. He slept with one other woman and she knew it and it didn’t get in the way. She had her own episodes, but it wasn’t just this combination that Hugh had, it was something about that which held her close. It was magical in the way he expressed himself or spoke passionately about only the things that mattered. Again she kept her luggage packed, again she used sex to feel, but the relationship was meaningful. Today, tomorrow or next week it didn’t need explanations. But for Hugh it had become something else. He couldn’t stop his gut from hurting and he had to sit down. The conversations weren't the destination for him anymore. He needed more of a commitment. To what? He had no clue.

“Look I’m not looking to get married.”

“I can’t even tell you my blood type.”

He sat next to her and began talking like he normally does. He explained himself as for a minute he was losing his mind. Whatever he was on to he wanted to lose it for the evening. She kissed him and then he stood up. She grabbed his hand he guided her to the bedroom.