The Five Strands of A Sedentary Empress

Eventually he felt his neck

Standing in the kitchen, as I stirred the pasta in the pot and watched the broccoli steam, he said something bordering on humour and I whipped around with the metal spoon in my hand.

"Well, we all know that if I die, you won't be devastated, that's something positive!'

For the record, I have no idea what he'd initially said, but it seemed like a good time to bring up what's been bubbling under the skin.

"Oh, I knew you'd take me seriously!", he laughed.

"Sorry, but you sounded rather sound in your conviction."

"You're so insecure!"

"Hello pot, this is the kettle! You're just as insecure as I am, if not more so, jerk!"

"You always do that, go for the throat. You can't just accept a criticism."

"Shut up."

Silence.

Then, I feel a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders, know that a smile is on his face.

"Just so you know, if something ever happened to you, my life would never be the same again."

"Well, duh." It was the best I could do.

"I need you, okay?"

Okay.