Friday, 22 May 2026
Zak opens the door to his studio flat. A bachelors bouquet crashes into his nostrils. Looking at his watch, he back heels the door shut. He slips off his shoes, shakes off his coat and throws open windows.
Bathroom inspected. Air freshener sprayed. Bin bag in hand, he scoops up foil containers, crushed cans and an ashtray. Evidence of a single life is wiped away with Flash and a J-cloth.
After a shower, Zak decides on pasta. He pre-heats the oven for the garlic bread and shuts the windows but leaves the front door on the latch.
Maddy walks in carrying a bottle of wine.
“Not exactly security conscious are you? I could rob the place, hold you hostage and for ransom.”
Zak is startled as he puts the garlic bread in the oven. He composes himself. “You’d need to overpower me first. How are your fighting skills?”
“I’m a tough cookie.”
“I’m a crumby fighter.”
“That’s terrible.” Maddy laughs.
“You bought wine.” Zak takes the bottle of wine from her.
“It’s customary.”
“So is offering a cheek for a kiss.”
“We’ll see.”
Maddy paces around the flat. Zak watches her finger through his CDs. Do people still buy these? There’s a picture of a couple who could be in their late twenties/early thirties.
Maddy likes the skylight above the bed. “You’re a tidy boy.”
“I am today.”
Maddy finds two wine glasses and pours. They stand looking at each other in silence for a few seconds before taking their first sips.
“Do you like pasta?”
“Oh, you’re gonna cook?”
“Yeah, is that OK?”
Maddy nods and hops onto a stool at the kitchen table where Zak has set aside ingredients. He boils water in one pan and adds a dash of olive oil into another. He chops up onions, garlic, mushrooms and removes seeds from a red chilli. Maddy is impressed with his knife work.
“I got a bit drunk last week. I can’t even remember asking you for your number.”
“I remember. You said you’ve only recently moved back to Heldon. You’re a freelance Web Designer. Before that info, there were a few cheesy chat up lines thrown in. There was one that went, are you an astronaut – your body is out of this world…”
“Oh god, I’m sorry.” Zak looks down and shakes his head. “What kinda music do you like?”
“It’s your place, put on what you like to listen to.”
“OK. Pink Floyd? Heard of them? Dark Side of the Moon? It’s one of my favorite albums.”
“Stick it on.”
“All these CDs belonged to my parents. There’s all sorts of stuff here. Soul, funk, jazz, pop.”
“You said belonged.”
Zak points at the picture and gets lost in it for a few seconds before focusing on Maddy.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s OK.”
“You told me you’ve come back to Heldon after a long time away and when I asked you why you’ve come back, you said you were looking for someone.”
“Looks like I’ve found her.”
“Oh shut up!” Maddy dissolves in laughter and so does Zak.
“Who are you looking for?”
“Just an old friend.”
The oven timer says the garlic bread is ready. Maddy puts on the oven gloves and takes the tray from the oven. They tuck into the garlic bread and have more wine.
Maddy loves the pasta, just the right amount of chilli so only her lips feel the heat and not her mouth. She said she’s going away for a few days but doesn’t say where and he doesn’t ask. He doesn’t ask her to stay the night.
