I asked, “What’s up? Is Brian running late today?” Her reply came with a forced smile, “He went to the casino and has apparently forgotten me,...�� and frowned revealing the pent hostility she held close to her breast. The downturn of her beautiful lips was like a slap in the face to my ever gentlemanly persona as I sat down beside her to visit while she waited for her ride. “He’ll be along,” I assured her with the most positive words I could think of, “He’s probably winning big and hasn’t realized. ‘Kim, I’m sorry. I didn’t explain,’ he said, stepping close enough to her she could feel his breath expel through his nostrils and placing his hand on hers. ‘I work here. All I’ll be doing is checking that everyone is OK upstairs, and that no one needs anything. OK?’ He’d read her body language so well she was embarrassed. He didn’t owe any explanation at all. She must have come across as petulant, needy. 
 ‘Yes, of course. I’ll wait,’ she said, with barely a smile. ~~~~~~ A few months. I sighed and slowly began the one mile trudge to my girlfriends house; all the way trying to come up with a reasonable excuse to why I had: not told her I was moving in a few hours and not told her our relationship had to end. I pulled out my phone and quickly texted “I'm on my way over I'll be there in 5” and continued the walk through my neighborhood.When I arrived at her doorstep and rang the doorbell a 5' 6”, 106 lb body flung itself at me and threw me into a passionate embrace. I welcomed. She quickly moved in and raised my arm up, as she had done before, a lifetime ago when I'd had clothes on. "Ladies!" she cried, once again demonstrating the unerring ability to control a raucous crowd, "Ladies, let's give it up for our fantastic new performer!" The audience erupted once again into applause and whistles, and appreciative comments. Claire let the crowd go on for a few moments longer, before magically silencing them with a wave of her hand. "And now, Ladies," she continued, "now.