Perfect Strangers

1. Absent

The door slams shut as the couple enters their quiet apartment, immediately disrupting the peaceful silence, as they continue their argument in harsh tones.

"I don't understand where this is coming from all of a sudden." He said confused, trying his best to remain calm as he removed his jacket. Turning to face her as to give her his undivided attention. She was obviously upset, what had triggered the outburst was beyond him.

"You don't touch me anymore." She rebutted, leaning against the door to remove her heels. Tossing them on the floor, she moved past him into the kitchen, ignoring the dumbfounded look that spread across his face.

"What do you mean? We had sex this morning!" he countered, still at a complete loss for the root of this argument. He moved so he was standing on the other side of the island that separated the kitchen from the living room, the space between them only furthering her point.

"I'd barely call that sex..." she said, the bite in her tone taking him aback.

"What happened to us? What happened to the desire? The passion?" She pushed, finally letting go of the feelings she kept bottled in.

"We used to have such incredible sex! It was raw, and passionate. Even animalistic at times." Not giving him a chance to respond, she simply let it all out.

"You couldn't keep your hands off me... " There was a pause, the emotion behind her voice making it tremble. He noticed, and slowly closed the gap between them.

"Now it feels as if touching me is a chore - you just feel absent, like I'm the only one trying." She wrapped her arms around herself, the emotions were starting to hit hard. Moving so he wrapped his arms around her, neither of them said a word. He just held her.

"How can I fix this?" he asked softly, suddenly feeling an urgency to fix this problem he hadn't been aware of.

"What if we go to a bar? Like we used to." He offers, excited by the sudden idea.

"Why, so you can stare at other women all night? No thank you." She spits, the venom in her tone making him pull back.

"I don't stare at other women, I love you! "He exasperates.

"No, you think you love me. You don't treat me the same as when we first met."

"What are you talking about?! You're crazy..."

"Don't call me crazy.... You know I hate that!"

"I'm sorry..."

"Do you remember that night...the first night?"

"Yes..."

"What happened to that?"

"I'm not that guy anymore.."

"But that's the guy that knew how to keep me satisfied..."

~End~