Member-only story
[This story was just published in the August issue of Ethical Non-Monogamy ‘ENM’ Magazine, p. 34. Enjoy!]
Slowly our world was opening. Like a tightly bound spring bud on the perennial, gradually, with the days growing longer and the temperatures climbing, the petals begin to unfurl, letting in water and air, letting out color and aromatic fragrance, similarly, with each passing day, more people were walking on the streets, more shops invited in limited customers, more restaurants set up tables outside. The patrons cautiously caroused and conversed in the allure of springtime sunshine that thawed the COVID chill of winter.
“Daddy,” said Lo that afternoon as she called me from home to my office where I was working, alone.
I knew from her tone, she wanted something.
“Yes?”
“Daddy, it’s Friday.”
“I am aware.”
“And it’s beautiful outside.”
“I can see,” I said, gazing out my office window onto the usually bustling, now sleepy street below.
“We haven’t had a date in forever.”
I wanted to remind Lo that, in the time of COVID-19, Friday evening is no different from Monday or Wednesday or any other day. But I refrained and listened.