Mark watched her as she cleared the dishes. Her body seemed to sweep across the floor. She grabbed plates and glasses all at once, loading herself up like an artful waitress. She talked all the while, and though he responded, he was not listening. She put him in a trance; he almost wanted to laugh at her bustling. She piled the dishes by the sink and turned on the faucet, talking loudly over the heavy stream of water. He smiled behind her. She was strong with wide hips, but had a surprising d...

A young woman stepped into the room. Her expression would give the impression that this was some kind of false place of security, a kind of cave she had made for herself in an area she was unfamiliar with. She wore a coral shirt and a kind of light green pant. She had a casual appearance, but not shabby. Her bangs were parted just so, her nails filed squarely and kept long – to her it was strange to feel the skin of her fingertips against things – and though her make-up was barely detectable,...

There is a man on either side of me on this plane. We're flying to Chicago. From there I'll fly to Washington D.C. The man in the window seat said one thing to me as I sat down, "Lucky you." He has since fallen asleep and I'm assuming he will be so until we land. He has a fairly attractive profile, though I can't speak for what he looks like straight on. I've learned that the two don't necessarily go together. He looks to be in his late thirties, early forties. He's married, or was and hasn't...