the lovers

they had met at a tennis club or some other snobby social gathering. jill was young, beautiful, and seductive. she lived for nothing but fleeting whim, but had recently been threatened from being withheld from her trust if she did not settle down and be a good girl. her parents, were of the old world and they did not understand all this independence nonsense.

jack was a nice boy. he was industrious and worked hard at his job. sometimes on the weekends he went out with his friends for a few beers, but never anything too crazy. he was level-headed and had grown complacent with solidarity as he had spent most of his 27 years by himself.

so it was a shock to jack that jill stuck around talking to him that afternoon at the tennis club, even after she had accidentally spilled her cocktail on him. jack of course knew who jill was, because there was no denying her presence.

jill was so versed in the art of love that soon she had little jack wrapped around her fingers. the trust was secured and she could go on living her unproductive, yet pampered life. she kept jack like you would a toy dachshund, clutched tightly to the bosom. but they were good lovers, or at least jack eventually came to be, after the first few dozen tries. jill was content, but she was not satisfied, because she was only playing it safe, and safe was not sexy.

jill eventually grew accustomed to the attention which jack lavished on her and you could even say that she loved him to a certain extent, just as much love that she could muster for anyone but herself. it was different for jack. he loved her completely. but jack was a simple person, what some might even call a fool. because ultimately a girl like jill was merely looking to be entertained. she was like a feather in the breeze, wafting away on any forgone fancy.

and one day she was gone and poor jack was only left with the memories and the remnant smell of her hair on his pillows. she had given him everything he had ever wanted and loved and known. she was a beautiful drug that he could never taste again.

so he hid himself in his little box and vowed to never to come out and play again.

"jack, but aren't you so lonely by yourself?" people would ask.

"no i am busy and i just dont think i could handle a relationship right now"

"jack, but don't you want to find love again?"

"no i found it once and i was fooled"

"jack, but don't you think you're narrow minded?"

"yes, but it is the only way i feel safe" because it was the truth and he never thought that he could go through that bullshit again.

he went on doing his own things, going to work, seeing his friends on the weekends, even going back to the tennis club, but only after he had confirmed that jill was not still a regular. and things went on after that little road bump and he was happy, but never quite the same again. not after that first taste.

it had been horrible coming off it, but it was the most perfect drug. and eventually he would have to test the waters again.