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was sort of funny. The runner driving an SUV and the chaser in a Mini. Those Minis though, were amazing little cars.
    A few minutes before I reached my destination the pursuer dropped back out-of-sight, as if evaporated. For a second I even believed in a supernatural explanation of the situation. Just for a second. Supernatural would be for books and films, it didn’t work for real life.
    I locked the car and stood by it for a few minutes, expecting Mini. I pretended to search in my bag and tie my gym shoes. Why did I put gym shoes on instead of high heels? Did I think I’d have to run?
    Pursuer hadn’t reappeared, but Ray came out of the building and dashed toward me. Jeans, a white linen shirt, untucked. I froze looking at him. I forgot about the chase, the phone, and my gym shoes. I just wanted him to hug me.
    He did just that, turning me into a rag doll; then he seized my shoulders and looked into my eyes.
    “I saw you were alone and ran to meet you. Did somebody follow you? Why didn’t you call?”
    “A black Mini Cooper was after me, but they fell behind somewhere.”
    “Mini Cooper?” he asked, as if he had heard the name for the first time. “Mini Cooper.”
    “They had tinted windows, I couldn’t see anything inside.”
    Ray looked around.
    “Let’s go.”
    He pulled me after him and I dragged myself along, like a sheep. I was always like this, two polarities with no in between. Either I didn’t let someone get close to me or it was take me I’m yours forever. Was it the same with Jason? No, Jason was a different story.
    The apartment was on the seventeenth floor, unlike mine, on the second, and opened to a great panoramic view of the city. I stopped by the window, sipping the offered Martini and watching the landscape of stone and concrete. Ray walked behind me; put his arms around my waist, and his chin on my shoulder. I could stay like this my whole life. Well, maybe a few hours. His scent, his warmth, his breath. It was crazy; no one should love like this. I told myself that and so did my friend Leslie. You can’t love with all your might, you can’t give yourself away completely, and you can’t show a man that you’re ready to do everything for him. No, no, no.
    I put the half-empty glass on the windowsill and turned to Ray. We looked at each other for some time then he kissed me. So many years, just dreaming about these lips touching mine, and finally feeling them. He picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. We knocked down a vase from the coffee table and it made us laugh, taking away the tension.
    We sat in the living room later. I put on his shirt, which fell to my knees and the sleeves covered my hands. I was not a midget, more of medium height, but Ray was taller by a head. He was dressed in the same jeans and T-shirt. We drank wine, ate crackers with cheese, and inspected the phone. Thin and blue. Ray checked all the messages, then threw the phone on the couch, and picked up his glass.
    “A week of messages, but who knows how long it went on before that? Maybe they’ve deleted most of them.”
    “Do you have any ideas? What ideas though? You don’t know anything about my life through these years.”
    Ray took my hand, brought it to his lips.
    “I hope to make up for that.”
    I moved closer to him; put my head on his shoulder.
    “I don’t want to talk or think about it,” I said, closing my eyes.
    “Neither do I. Unfortunately, our meeting and this strange event have coincided. Maybe they should have.”
    “What do you think I should do then?”
    “First of all, move away from me. I can’t think about anything when you’re so close.”
    I smiled and moved away.
    “Better?”
    “Not much.”
    “I don’t mind.”
    “Me neither, but we won’t get anywhere.”
    I took my glass. The wine had become warm, but I still drank it. I felt strange. I was shaking from fear when I was driving here, but now I didn’t care. Like nothing had really happened, and if something was