Free Where the Birds Hide at Night by Gareth Wiles

failing.
    â€˜Thanks.’
    â€˜And,’ she carried on, calmly but assuredly, ‘I kinda know that you and I wouldn’t have worked out either, because you’re just not enough of a man.’
    â€˜Is that why I married a lesbian, then?’ Alex sighed, his last grasp of human connection slipping away as he received Emma’s character assassination. She gave out a little cough as he rubbed his sore eyes. ‘Back then, we were just kids. I didn’t think I stood a chance with you, you were the most amazing girl in school. I blocked any thoughts of you and me from my mind. It was a simple no-no.’
    â€˜Even after I told you how I felt?’ she came back at him, holding back the tears.
    â€˜Katie, she was in a bad place; I felt I couldn’t step away from her. I don’t know, Emma, I just don’t know anything. I’m a complete useless turd.’
    She grabbed his hand again and they sat there silently for a time, neither knowing what to say.
    Emma eventually broke the silence with: ‘The only men I seem to get sniffing around me are dickheads. They’re all just after one thing, and they can’t see past my looks. I guess that’s why I wanted you, because you didn’t show any interest in me in that way.’
    â€˜All I’ve ever seen in girls are their looks. If I rated their looks too highly, I didn’t bother with them… not that I bothered much with girls. Remember how long it took me to get together with Katie? That was vomit-inducing stuff.’
    â€˜Look, there’s a life outside of here, but it’s not with Katie.’
    â€˜I don’t want Katie. I want you, Emma.’
    â€˜I don’t know if we could have something together, Alex,’ she cut. ‘But, there
is
something. I don’t understand it, but I guess I’m here now aren’t I?’
    â€˜I need to stand up, I know, and stop being this weak and feeble little piece of snot. I will try to be the man you want me to be. Please, Emma,’ he grasped her hand tighter and tighter, a sensation of pins and needles running through it. ‘Everyone else has ditched me but you.’
    The bell had gone, visitors were being cleared out. ‘I must go,’ she cried, the tears bursting like bullets from their ducts as she pulled away to go. ‘I’ll come back, I promise.’
    With this promise, and possible future beyond his current stupor, Alex felt a rush of joy and renewed vigour drawn into his body. The crushing on his chest leapt away and he watched in awe as its visual embodiment as a grey mist evaporated. His eyes lost the last image of Emma as she disappeared from the room and he turned to leave in the opposite direction. As he did so, he bumped into a familiar face.
    â€˜You lucky man,’ said Reaping Icon. ‘I came back just in the nick of time.’
    â€˜Go away, I don’t want you interfering with me.’
    â€˜That’s gratitude,’ Reaping Icon laughed, stalking behind Alex as he was marched off back to his cell.
    Back in the cell, Reaping Icon appeared the other side of the door and said: ‘I can get you out of here.’
    â€˜Go away,’ Alex said again, tossing and turning on the bed.
    â€˜Oh don’t be silly, now. Listen, all you have to do is concentrate really hard and The Space will grant you whatever you so wish. You could walk straight out of here unimpeded.’
    â€˜And what then? Once I’m out, would I just magically be allowed to stay out for the rest of my life? Of course not!’
    â€˜The Space can grant you that which you most desire. Emma, for instance, will be putty in your hands.’
    â€˜I don’t want her to be putty in my hands.’
    Reaping Icon now appeared in the cell and strolled around quite amply, as if the room was much vaster than it appeared to Alex. ‘Open your mind, placate the sensual! Do not let the undiluted remain as such,’ he