A Last Discussion

 Melody laid down on her back and set her head gently on my stomach. 
   “Hell of a day, huh?” she said, with an expression that I could almost call friendly. There was something about this woman that I didn’t understand at all no matter how much I wanted. And I guessed it had something to do with the man who had left.
   “I want to say that Ethan isn’t quite as bad as he seems, but frankly, at some level, he is. And at some level, I guess I’m that bad too.” She turned onto her side, facing me. “I’m going to ruin your life, Betty. I hope you don’t mind the name Betty. I think it’s pretty. In any case, it won’t be long before you answer to it.”


 She paused. “You’ll make my twenty-third. If you use a base twenty-three counting system, that’s a round number. You should feel honored.”

 She sighed and seemed to think for a little. “If it means anything, I feel a little bit of sympathy for you. Both of us could be doing something a lot better with our lives. I could be helping people rather than destroying them. And you…”

 She stood up and walked to the door. “You could be doing anything other than what you’re going to be doing in a few weeks. Good night. Sleep well.”
For one second, and I repeat, one second, as she closed the door, I thought I could feel something for her.