Silence

“I included you”,  he said, looking directly at her.

“I never said you didn’t” , she said, looking away. She read his tones .She read tones like weather reports and dressed accordingly.

“You went silent. There was no enthusiasm”.  

She thought about that. Hoping it would go away. She longed to sit on the veranda hoping the clouds would pass. She didn’t want to go inside out of the rain. She didn’t want to dance in the rain either.

“There was no enthusiasm.” He said. Not meaning to accuse. Just stating a fact.

“Would you like coffee or tea,” she asked.

“You know I like coffee,” He said distracted

“You used to.” She said.

“What does that mean?” She got up and went into the kitchen hoping the storm wouldn’t come.

“You changed,” she said.  

“We are always changing.”

“I know,” she said, “I liked it the way it was.”  

He could hear her grinding coffee beans and running water.  He hoped the clouds would pass. He wondered if he should put up a screen so they’d not have to go inside when it rained.  People are finding ways always to stay outside more. He’d just been looking at heaters.  He heard the coughing sound the expresso makes when it was finished. She returned to two cups, each with cream and honey.  Normally he made the coffee. He served her and that was the issue. She liked to be served.  She deserved to be served. They both did but now older so much had been taken.  Age itself took it’s toll.  But the losses were many. Now the government was taking more.  Costs were rising. He didn’t feel he could afford to move.  She’d wanted that.  They’d talked about it.

“Here’s your coffee,” she said, smiling. She was still very pretty.  His heart lifted just to see her. She was good and pure if just a little selfish. More and more his friends felt owed. They looked to each other for support. It was the constant Chinese torture. The drip drip drip of the silent erase.  He’d lost so much before he awoke. Now he wanted change and she was withdrawing. Further away.  

They’d waited for Godot so long.  On this veranda.  Shall we stay or shall we go.

“Do you think the guys are still at the station?”  

“I think so. If they weren’t, we’d have heard.”

“Everyone’s waiting, as we said, aren’t they.”

“Yes,” 

“Would you like to dance?” 

‘Not if it’s going to rain.”