New Title 1 by Gina Ranalli Read Free Book Online

was far more receptive to them than he was. She giggled and said, “You really think so? Come on! We were ‘too busy fucking to care,’ huh? What kind of excuse is that?”
         The wall was prepared to show her what kind of excuse it was.
     
    * * * * *
     
         For both the woman and the wall, their last days together as a couple were bittersweet ones. They made love frequently, but they also fought frequently, always about the same old things. Sometimes, the woman lost control of her temper and threw things at the wall, or punched or kicked it.
         She always felt terrible about her actions and made it up to him as best she could, usually in ways involving her tongue.
         But they both knew the end was near, looming on the horizon like a silhouetted vulture, hungry and anxious to pick over the carcass of their love for any little pieces still moist and juicy.
         Finally, when she could stand it no longer, she sat down across from the wall and just stared at it, her eyes teary and pleading. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “But you must know too that this just isn’t working between us. We’re too different. Way too different.”
         She plucked a tissue from the box on her lap and blew her nose while listening to the wall’s protests.
        “ We’ve been trying to work it out, sweetie,” she said. “How long do you expect us to try? It just never gets any better.”
         For a long time, neither of them spoke, but they both wept freely and occasionally she would reach out a hand and touch the wall, doing her best to soothe it. She only wished there was something that would soothe her as well.
         When the silence had grown too long, she whispered, “For the longest time I thought you would be the one I’d marry.”
         To that, the wall made no response, which made her cry even harder.
         That night, she packed up all the pillows and blankets that she had laid at the foot of the wall and brought them back upstairs to her bedroom where she would be sleeping from now on.
         They discussed how they should remember the good times and definitely remain friends. After all, they were roommates and there was no indication that was going to change anytime soon. They would be strong and brave and lean on each other when it was needed, but gradually, they would learn to live together separately.
        “ It won’t be so bad,” she said, trying to sound cheery. “We can still get drunk together and watch Sleepless in Seattle. ” She cocked her head, listening to the wall with a sad smile. “Of course I know you always hated that movie, silly! And yes, I know you hate Tom Hanks, too. But it was still something special to me.”
         That night was the last night they had sex together and much to the woman’s surprise and regret it was better than it had ever been. She remembered hearing that goodbye fucks were even better than make-up fucks and now she believed it was true.
         Still, it wasn’t enough for her to change her mind and when it was over, she went to her bedroom alone. She stared up at the dark ceiling and wondered if the wall was thinking about her or if he was thinking about anything at all. She supposed even that much was a fantasy: that he would be running their last time together over and over through his mind, as she was. Most likely, his mind was a complete blank, which she thought was his most common state. He seemed content to just exist, while she wanted to live. She wanted someone who would take her places, introduce her to his family, try a different sex position now and then.
         She wanted Mr. Right, not Mr. Stoic.
     
    * * * * *
     
         The following day, she had the urge to call home, even though she hadn’t done that in quite some time. But she had a bad feeling, so she called and, as was always the case, Wally didn’t pick up the phone. She listened to her outgoing message and then said,