A Head Full of Beauty

We both knew what we wanted - of that there is absolutely no doubt. We didn't have to say anything, from the start of the week, right up until the point where I was naked in his bed; we both knew. About two weeks ago Gareth and a few of our colleagues had arranged to have a night out this Friday. We had a pretty tight knit group of 6 who often lunched together at work, but this was one of the few times we were actually going out together. From Monday Gareth was pestering me like he had before:  "Are you coming out on Friday, are we going out out, are we gonna have a big one..."  "Yes", I had replied, "of course." And I booked my waxing appointment and blowdry for Friday lunch, my mind made up about what I wanted.  I had been thinking what would I regret more; sleeping with him or not sleeping with him. I decided on the latter. I'd not been with anyone since Joe left in January and more than that, thoughts of Gareth were continually runn...

"People always leave." That's what I'd told my therapist in one of our last sessions together. "Men always leave. They will die or leave you for someone or something else. That's what I've seen from my life." There was never a man standing by my side to hold my hand or look after me. Even now I make it clear that is neither what I expect or even want from a relationship. I've never been anybody's little princess. I could never be. The thought of someone looking after me and doting on me and treating me 'like a princess' feels so wrong. It feels WRONG?!  I want to be an equal. I want to split the bill for dinner. I don't want to feel owned or controlled in any way. I want to know that he isn't weak and needy. Because however weak and needy I am, I will never, ever display that side to him.  And that's where it goes wrong. Sure Gareth knows I have issues with food and how I look (note: 'issues' not bulimi...

Except at 26, neither feeling 22 nor acting 17 is okay. All the secrets I have to keep. I can't tell anyone what I did last night. Except the whole world here, with my anonymous face. Hiding. Because I know I should be ashamed. In Pieces: a Collection of Surrealist and Silent Short Stories, Inspired by Everyday Life and Human Relationships Marion Fayolle All week I had been thinking about Gareth. Thinking, longing, dreaming - at the expense of my work and my sanity. But the strangest thing happened to my eating. No binges, no starving, no vomiting, just level-headed control. Was it the faux joy? We spoke every day: whatsapp, office messenger, lunches in the bank restaurant and 'meetings' in the bank coffee shop, sessions in the gym and runs along embankment. No sense for being sensible and holding back, getting closer and closer. I wanted to be closer and closer. I kept thinking about having my hands on him. Fuck him. Fuck him for literally putting tho...