He made a noise that sounded like a strangled laugh, and then said: Ah, I like your style. Ill give you that. Youre not easy to get the upper hand on, are you? Obviously Im not going to manage it. Its funny, because you carry on like youd let me walk all over you, answering my texts at two in the morning, and then telling me youre in love with me, blah blah blah. But thats all your way of saying, just try and catch me, because you wont. And I can see I wont. Youre not going to let me have it for a minute. Nine times out of ten youd have someone fooled with the way you go on. Theyd be delighted with themselves, thinking they were really the boss of you. Yeah, yeah, but Im not an idiot. Youre only letting me act badly because it puts you above me, and thats where you like to be. Above, above. And I dont take it personally, by the way, I dont think youd let anyone near you. Actually, I respect it. Youre looking out for yourself, and Im sure you have your reasons. Im sorry I was so harsh on you with what I said, because you were right, I was just trying to hurt you. And I probably did hurt you, big deal. Anyone can hurt anyone if they go out of their way. But then instead of getting mad with me, you go saying Im welcome to stay over and you still love me and all this. Because you have to be perfect, dont you? No, you really have a way about you, I must say. And Im sorry, alright? I wont be trying to take a jab at you again. Lesson learned. But from now on you dont need to act like youre under my thumb, when we both know Im nowhere near you. Alright? Another long silence fell. Their faces were invisible in darkness. Eventually, in a high and strained voice, straining perhaps for an evenness or lightness it did not attain, she replied: Alright. If I ever do get a hold of you, you wont need to tell me, he said. Ill know. But Im not going to chase too much. Ill just stay where I am and see if you come to me. Yes, thats what hunters do with deer, she said. Before they kill them.

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney