Free Gravitate by Jo Duchemin Page A

however, they would probably put him on the phone and I’d have no opportun ity to ask questions about him. The other option was to pretend to be someone else and try to ask the right questions, although I wondered how much they would tell someone over the phone without any proof of who they were.
    I was still debating the best course of action with myself as I left the lecture hall, after taking in zero content of the two hour talk. I was toying w ith the locket around my neck. After a day of thinking constantly about the possibility of Marty not being what I needed him to be, it brought me comfort to have something from him near to me. As I got to the door, I saw that it was starting to rain and I hadn’ t brought a jacket out with me. And at that moment, I saw Marty standing outside, und er an umbrella, waiting for me. My day of doubting ev aporated and all I saw was him. Whatever it was that he couldn’t tell me, it could w ait. This was our time now.
    I desperately wanted to run to him and throw myself into his arms, but I caught myself before I moved. We had to ap pear as just friends in public. I feared my smile, and the blush spreading through my cheeks, mi ght give me away. I saw my happiness reflected in his eyes.  We shared a s mile that held all our secrets. I tried to saunter casually over to him, a flimsy disguise for my feelings.
    “Hello, stranger,” I said, realising my greeting rang very true – he rea lly was a stranger to me. “What are you doing here?”
    “I knew you wouldn’t have brought a jacket with you and there was rain on the way. I thought I’d come and save you from getting soaked.”
    “You know me better than I know myself. How was your day?”
    “It was tough – a f ew patients passed over today.” He looked drained.
    “Oh, I’m sorry…” I didn’t know what to say.
    “It was time for them, they’d be en in pain and they were ready. It’s always sad, but I was gl ad to be with them at the end. There was nothing else that could be done for them here.”
    We walked along in silence for a few moments. It felt strange to be standing so clos e to him without touching him. I longed to hold his han d, to close the gap between us. I didn’t know how I would keep up this pre tence. Not knowing why I had to pretend made it more difficult.
    “I bumped into your friend, James, today.” I glanced over at Marty’s face. It was a picture that showed no emotion.
    “Oh, yes, how is he?”
    “He’s fine. He mentioned that he had only known you for four weeks. And that got me thinking…nobody seems to have known about you before a month ago.” I phrased it as a statement, even though there was a question underlying my words.
    “Yes, that is true – nobody you know would have known me before that.”
    “Can I meet some of your older friends?” The rain splashed harder, and I drew cl oser to him under the umbrella. He instantly pulled further away.
    “I don’t think you can, Claudia.  My acquaintances ru n in different circles to you.” His face, still beautiful, held a hint of tension.
    “Are you ashamed of me?” Up until now, I’d not considered this as a possib ility for the rules he obeyed. His eyes flashed to mine, showing alarm.
    “Of course not, don’t ever think that.” He looked genuinely concerned and it made me feel guilty for even think ing that he was ashamed of me.
    A cold breeze brushed past us and I was grateful we were nearly home, cursing myself f or not bringing a coat with me. Marty noticed me shiver and immediately started taking off his jacket, carefully managing to keep me covered w ith the umbrella as he did so. I was always in awe of how he did things like that, which would have been like a game of Twister if I’d attempted it. He handed me the jacket, his fingers brushing against mine for just a fraction of a second longer than necessary. I couldn’t seem to move. He took the jacket back from me and draped it ar ound my shoulders,