‘It starts with a joint. Then the beers. Then breaking into the liquor cabinet because we want more booze. Then a bump or two. Then a whole line. And all the time it doesn’t feel out of control. We’re balancing each other out. Minutes turn into hours, and all we do is talk. About everything. And I realise—- I never knew her like this. We never talked, not really. Not about anything important.

How did I never realise that she was a complete stranger?

I never fell out of love with her. Maybe I never loved her in the first place—- I don’t know. What I do know is I never felt with her the way I feel tonight, with him. Understood. Warm. Appreciated. Known. I feel different now. Out of place, like he knows something I don’t.

He watches my every movement, and I watch his. I see his fingers twitch. My reflection in his pupils as they dilate. The corner of his mouth forever held in that smug smirk. His chest as it rises and falls, and his heart beating through that. His eyes as they grow tired. It’s late, but I don’t know how late.

As far as I’m concerned, the world outside has stopped.’