“I’m going into town,” Riven says, grabbing his car keys and putting on his parka. “You want to come?”
“No,” I say, thinking I want to finish my days on this couch, talking to as few people as I can manage.
“You need me to bring you anything?”
“No, thanks, I’m good.”
“See you later,” Riven opens the front door, letting in a draft of chilly air, and then bangs the door shut as he goes out.
I snuggle further under my plaid blanket and concentrate on the Friends episode, The One Where Everybody Finds Out.
Riven comes back five episodes later. That’s how I’m marking the passing of time now, in Friends episodes.
He drops a bag of groceries on the kitchen counter and stores the fresh produce in the fridge while I brace myself for the next attempt he’ll make at making conversation or try
