I’ll apologise if it’s necessaryif you like. I went into your studio and saw your writing beside the typewriterit’s an old type . . 

. . Yes  My mother bought it for five dollars at the liquor store where she worked from a drunk who needed a drink

My, that’s interesting.

A boon In the right place at the right time one could suppose

Yes.  But what I mean to say, I saw your writing and I was curious. I only looked at the top pageI didn’t mean to . . snoop . or anything . . bad.

You didn’t have to sa . . 

. . No. I did.  It’s, rather, none of my business, is it?

In a couple of days likely I would have shared it with you

Yes, yes, I thought that too. But what you share is after you’ve, what? reimagined it,  rewrote, edited . . . I was curious to see it in its raw form. You rarely share the raw form with me; seeds, as they are.

Ah  I didnt thinkwouldnt have thought you were interested  You neednt apologise 

Thank you.  I didn’t mean to intrude.

You didnt

she fumbled with the buttons on her blouse  it was childlike  very attractive

                                                                                 May I ask you something?

Always

The piece you shared with me last night; it was from that page?

Yes

The piece was nearly, what? sixseven hundred words?

Youre getting good  Yes  Just over seven hundred

On the page I looked at, there were only three words.

Yes

They disturbed me.

The piece didnt disturb you

No.  But the three words, timed, dated, underlined . . did.

The words were a trigger I wasnt going to forget

Hands don’t shrink.

Yes

It is an uncomfortable observation.

Its an observation

An observation . . like your dreams?you don’t have nightmares . . . you  have  dreams.

Perhaps  I havent given it any thoug . .

. . You could now, couldn’t you, talk to me about it.

Yes if you like

Please.

I thinkmy thought why violate something why create  unnecessary violenceits the same if you would when I refer to a personuse their name however avoid their sex if they are male female becausenow  their sex could be a step to stereotypeclassify them

Obviously their name will do that too or might Pat he laughed

                                                                  So I prefer to eliminate that   prejudice

Pain.

Yes

You also don’t talk of pain.

No

You use the word discomfort.

Yes

Why? If you’re in pain why woul . .

. . Why would I allow it to infiltrate me abuse me  I keep it away at least at arms leng . . 

. . As you often do with people.

Yes

A defense mechanism?

No

You wouldn’t describe it as a defensive mechanism?

No

Then what?

I dont care  That may sound cold

It is cold, and I find it difficult to believe . because . . you care about me.

I do  Perhaps you dont recall when we met the second time

I remember. We didn’t think much of each other the first time

We did not  We agreed

I don’t following.

When we met the second timeyoull recall  I didnt speak with you you were there with a friend 

I recall. Yes.  I didn’t think you liked me.

A cold fishwouldnt you say

Yes.

I was observing you I was wondering if I would be wasting my time I wanted to learn if I could care If you hadnt piqued mebeing who you wereme overhearing you

I was making a choice

And if I hadn’t liked you?

That would have been your choice

And that wouldn't have hurt you?

No I didnt know you well enough for you to hurt me

Hands dont shrink

                     when were beat downusurped by terminal illness and we fight we lose weight we shrink our muscles our bodies eat  our bones stick out our faces grow gaunt 

our hands dont shrink

he worked his daughters handsmassaging them her arms tried to quell their swellings every night

                                                                                                         every night he held her hands in his for hours 

they couldnt talk

her illness stole her voice many many months prior

                                                    she spoke with her eyesthey had long conversations without speaking a word

her hands didnt shrink

1256,  Twosday,  28  1. 20

1516,  Reggae Friday,  3  7. 20

Jewel  Who Will Save Your Soul  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax56Bg17ezo