was a pile of
gorgeous new review books waiting at home.
She was trying to decide which one to crack
open that night when an e-mail from Adam arrived. Eden squelched
the treacherous surge of happiness she felt.
Subject: Hello
------------------------
From: Adam -
Date: Fri, Aug 3, at 4:12 PM
To: Eden E
I have just returned home from a chaotic
day.
How are you my dear?
----------
From: Eden E
Date: Fri, Aug 3, at 4:32 PM
To: Adam -
Finishing up at work. How are you?
----------
From: Adam -
Date: Fri, Aug 3, at 4:33 PM
To: Eden E
I'm dead to the world, and had an exhausting
day, but I had to check in with my muse, ha.
Get home and have a drink woman!
----------
From: Eden E
Date: Fri, Aug 3, at 4:34 PM
To: Adam -
I rarely drink. I'll be leaving in a
minute.
----------
From: Adam -
Date: Fri, Aug 3, at 4:38 PM
To: Eden E
I didn't want you think I had neglected you.
That is to say, I couldn't have forewarned you of my complete
disappearance today, due to it being quite unexpected.
I'm lying on my bed. My mind is completely
active, but my muscles are melting into the mattress, if that makes
sense.
Any plans for this weekend? Perhaps you will
go to your allotment and sit around a fire while someone plays the
guitar and you eat the vegetables you have accumulated from the
day? Ha
----------
From: Eden E
Date: Fri, Aug 3, at 4:56 PM
To: Adam -
My dear Adam,
You sound quite weary and I'm touched that
you thought of me before falling asleep.
Tomorrow night I plan on going to a bonfire
on the beach. Sunday, I will be kicking and punching things,
perhaps people.
I am not sending you to bed because you're
already there!
I have a bunch of burning questions for you
waiting when you have time.
Good night.
----------
From: Adam -
Date: Fri, Aug 3, at 5:00 PM
To: Eden E
I am ruined this evening.
That's the loophole is it? If I'm already in
bed it doesn't count? Ha
OK. Then I await your questions in the
morrow.
Good night.
Eden exited and logged off her work computer
with satisfaction. She had been reserved but not rude. He seemed
apologetic, even though there had been no need for him to be. They
"met" on Twitter and she should expect nothing of substance from an
event born of transience.
She was still wary when he e-mailed her very
early the following morning. She took her time replying.
----------
From: Adam -
Date: Sat, Aug 4, at 3:15 AM
To: Eden E
Good morning my dear, 12:15 here. Not at
all. I am not the inconsiderate kind.
What is this business of kicking and
punching about?
I'm heading out to meet the building manager
about the library.
Though it was endearing that you weren't
“sending me to bed”, that still warrants me calling you mother.
Burn me with your questions then.
Until soon,
Adam
----------
From: Eden E
Date: Sat, Aug 4, at 8:02 AM
To: Adam -
Good morning/afternoon!
Do you ever wake up wanting to devour
everything in sight? Life included? That's what I felt like this
morning and then I saw an e-mail from you. So I'm sitting with a
big plate of 2 eggs, sausages, hash browns and toast. Americans at
least know the meaning of a proper breakfast, grant us that.
Ready for a barrage? You’ve provoked my
curiosity:
Why is it that retired men tell you that
they’re thankful not to have lived your life?
You sound soul-weary at times, as though
you’ve lived much at such a young