Free What Men Don't Understand by Nuria Solano Page A

you. Yes, but I wish it was cooler.
    “You bet! But this is nothing compared to what I went through last week”.
    “It's true. Have you been on holiday, right”.
    “A short week in Venezuela; my wife and me. Mostly on the beach, but we also took a trip to the jungle. That is amazing!”
    “I'm glad to hear it. Well, see you later”.
    Inma returned to her bedroom. She noticed her hair was tousled, and she was wearing tiny shorts and a tank top. It was not the best look for socializing. Although Benito must have got used to see the neighbors anyway.
    She prepared breakfast with an absent mind. Her head, once again, was with Hugo. Now it was his hypnotic smile, and this ability his thin hands had to slide down her body and find the vulnerable, sensitive slits. She kept then still, subdued. Hoping, wishing the slightest movement of his fingers, his tongue, searching the cleft.
    The mug hit the floor and shattered. Warm milk, poured out over the tiles. With an uneasy restlessness, Inma picked up the pieces and mopped the floor. The bell rang. Through the peephole she saw Sibi's clear, transparent gaze, her slender body, and the almost perpetual smile drawn on her face. How old was she? Fifty?
    “Morning Sibi”.
    “Hi honey. I hope I'm not bothering you, but look, I thought that maybe this would encourage you a bit”.
    In a pan, Sibi brought a jar of freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee, milk, two boiled eggs, croissants, ham, two rolls, and two cups.
    “Oh, it comes very handy! My breakfast ended up on the floor. Come in!”
    They had breakfast, and Sibi's small talk, like a whisper, had Inma distracted momentarily from her obsessions. Although in a moment of silence, she couldn't help to open her heart and talk.
    “At times it looks like I'm going crazy. I even see things!
    “Try not to think about it, let it go. This is all normal. You just swallowed a bitter pill, and you hardly get any sleep my little girl. The allergy drugs keep you dizzy, and above all, you have a lot of free time available! Look, you still have some unpacked boxes and stuff to organize. It's your new home! Why don't you put everything in it's place? What your hands do, so does your head”.
    Inma smiled. This woman was a finding. Had it not been for her, Inma would be just mourning in bed.

    After a shower and feeling savvy, she played some CDs to cheer up. Sibi had left a very nice little figure before leaving. He was a big headed man carved in dark wood that stuck out his tongue. He sat cross-legged. It smelled a little weird, as if it had been soaked in some concoction. “It is an amulet that wards off evil thoughts and spirits. Surely you don't believe in this nonsense, but hey, keep that out there. Any help is good. Don't you think?” While Inma held it in her hand, her eyes went to a framed photo on the dresser. Hugo and she smiled happily on a background of trees and a river. She put the photo face down, and she placed the little idol. Self-satisfied, she began to fix the house.
    Several CDs were playing randomly. It began "Suffer Well" from Depece Mode, Hugo's favorite song. She pressed immediately to go to the next track, but the poison had already entered. "He told me to call him at any time, he didn't want things to end in bad terms". It may not be a bad idea. Hearing his voice, that always sounded like a lull at the phone, could make her feel better, but what would she say? "I fell terrible, I still have this allergy and I can't sleep. I spend the day crying, and my holidays are wasted". No, it wasn't such a good idea. She leaned over the balcony. There was still a veil in the morning. A haze that made the world more stifling, narrow, limited to everyone's misfortunes. She removed the soaked sheets from her bed and took them to the washing machine in the small kitchen gallery that, windows wide open, faced also the interior garden. Crouched, she was putting them into the drum, when he perceived something close, very close. She