Why did he have to come back, why now when I finally stepped onto a path where I could be my own person. Had he ever even left London? While I certainly had no answer to those questions, the one thing I absolutely did know was I would take every pain necessary to avoid crossing paths with him. There would be no idle gossip or wild speculation about us. There was no “us” and would never be an us. With that resolve planted firmly in my mind, I undressed and slipped into a thin wrapper then brushed out my hair, pulled the curtains across the window, and lay upon my small bed until sleep at last overtook me. Mrs. O’Connell rapped on my door at six and asked me down to share supper with her. I was grateful for the company and would like to have suggested we share meals together more often, but didn’t have the resources to offer her more than the most basic fare. I’m sure she would have insisted I dine with her in her flat but I refused to appear helpless and needy.
