My wife is paralyzed, so I haven’t been inti:mate with her for four months. Out of deep frustration, I left her alone for ten days to go on a date with the younger sister of my colleague. And then… the unexpected happened.

so good to be seen without being needed.

I told myself it was harmless. She asked about my life, and I gave her the edited version—my wife had been in an accident, things were rough, I was tired. Christina’s face softened in exactly the right places, and she touched my wrist as if compassion were something intimate and easy instead of heavy and demanding.continue reading …