Unicorns Don’t Grow On Trees
They went to bed. Like they always did. Next to each other. Breathing each other. Feeling comfortable knowing that at least somewhere out in that big bad world, they had each other to sleep next to. That lying in bed, naked, occasionally touching hands, and falling asleep simultaneously was a little bit of nice in a universe of not-so-nice.
His name was Xavier. Manager of a strip club. Ballroom dancer. Actor. Poet.
Her name was Anna Lisa Kristina. Registered Nurse. Home owner.
Best friends, sometimes more, more times just best friends. No one really understood how these two became friends, or why they continued to be friends after they realized they had absolutely nothing in common with each other, or why, for fucks’ sake, they would sleep in the same bed, without clothes, and not have sex. Wake up the next day, eat breakfast, read the paper, and then go off in their separate cars, one to the hospital, the other to a strip club. Come home late in the evening, take separate showers, get talk a little, and then go to sleep.
They weren’t married but they acted like it. Including the not having sex part. Like they’d been married for 36 years. Like they were old and gray. But they weren’t. She was 26, he was 29. They were in the primes of their lives. No one knew, especially they, why they lived like this for over a year.
“I don’t get this.” He said, in bed. “It’s like we’re married.”
“Except you don’t get to have sex with me.” She smiled, putting her glasses on the nightstand next to the bed.
“Why is that? How come we’re not going further with this?” He asked, rubbing his eyes, yawning.
She closed her book, put it next to her glasses. “Because it’s safer to pretend something is there, than face the truth knowing we’re all alone.”
He pulled the covers over his head, turned to his side, and took a deep breath. “When the hell did you become a philosopher?”
“Yesterday.” She said dryly, and she turned off the lamp. “Good night, Dumb.”
“Good night, Sweety.” He said.
They fell asleep to dreams, and only dreams.
