“Viv, curiosity is going to fuck the cat senseless. You really shouldn’t,” said her best friend, Anna, exasperation rolling off her in waves.

Viv lifted her eyebrows, smiling into her tea. She leaned back against the kitchen counter, sipping slowly. The heat of the mug warmed her fingers and the tea’s fragrant, pleasant smell made her happy. She ignored Anna’s frown and examined the bits at the bottom of her mug, watching it make a sandy looking pattern in the amber liquid.

Anna tossed a tea bag into her own mug and poured steaming water from the electric kettle. She deliberately put it down with a thud, drawing Viv’s disapproving glance.

“Don’t hurt my mugs,” Viv said mockingly.

“You’re playing with fire,” Anna retorted. “I know you’re terribly unhappy, but what could you possibly be thinking? He could be a psycho.”

“I’m not playing with anything. He’s just a boy- well dressed, so he’s not homeless or a something like that. Good looking. Probably not older than 22, 23. It wasn’t anything. Nothing happened. It was odd, but he seemed nice enough. I actually think he might have a disability. It would have been unkind if he’s challenged and just wanted to make friends.”

“It’s not normal, Viv. Didn’t you say he’s been stalking you, hanging around the corner with his dog pretending to be walking it. That’s creepy as hell. What if Jason finds out?”

Viv’s face creased momentarily at the mention of her partner. 

“Look you didn’t drive all the way from Vancouver to talk about this, did you?” Viv snapped, suddenly tired of the conversation.

“No,” Anna agreed, her expression changing. “I was going to ask you whether or not you were going to try to get Jason to go to counselling with you.”

Viv put her tea down on the counter and turned to look out the window.

“I asked, but he won’t agree. He doesn’t believe in it. He says I just need to calm down and talk to him like a normal person.”

Anna made a disgusted noise.

“Well that’s actually not surprising,” she snorted, but her expression was soft, concerned.

“You need to take care of yourself, Viv… Look, I have some time in the next few months. We should do something together. Spend more time…No, seriously, don’t look at me like that. I know I haven’t been available recently and I’m sorry, but this is important. Come on, ah?”

“Jason’s not going to find out because it’s not important enough to tell him,” said Viv, with finality. “He’s just a kid who lives in the neighborhood – there’s nothing wrong with him walking his dog by the house.”

Anna nodded, but said nothing more. Viv knew she wouldn’t bring it up again for now and thankfully the conversation turned to mundane things like work and children.