The Egg Said Nothing Read Online Free PDF Page B

“My place is only a few blocks away and I have a couch there. It isn’t very comfortable. There isn’t any food. But I have a TV and basic cable. It’s included in the rent.”

    “That’s what you want to do with me? Watch TV?” she asked, mock offense playing across her delicate features.

    “It’s not just watching TV,” I explained. “This, my friend, is the middle of the night. The shows we can find are not the same as those offered in the daylight.

    “We don’t have to waste time with the steroid-budgeted feature films shortened for time and content. We get to see Teen Wolf and The Breakfast Club and Weekend at Bernie’s Two in their entirety, with swear words expertly replaced with overdubbing.

    “We get to watch the entertainment equivalent of a transitional object, and can fall asleep with our teddy bears clasped tightly in our arms and Molly Ringwald’s words dying on our lips.

    “And all of this while the rest of the world sleeps. They dream their little dreams, toss and turn in sweaty sheets, and we’ll be awake. Do you realize the effect that will have on us? Instead of air, we’ll be breathing dreams.”

    Ashley shook her head. “You and your dream theft. First it’s wishes, then it’s dreams. Don’t you find it strange you steal those things that are most personal to others?”

    “I don’t steal,” I pointed out. “I never steal.” We walked along in silence for a brief time until we came upon my building, looming like a giant with scoliosis.

    “Here we are.”

    “Here?” she asked.

    “Yup.” I pulled the front door and held it open. “My little slice of paradise.”

    “Thank you, sir,” she said. I followed her into the building, breathing in her scent. I felt lightheaded. “Going up?” she asked, pointing to the elevator.

    “Yes, ma’am,” I said. We rode the elevator up.

    Once it stopped, we walked the short distance down the hallway. I dug in my pocket for my keys. Then I paused.

    “Wait a second,” I said. “That’s 312.”

    “Is that not where you live?” Ashley asked.

    “No, it isn’t. I live in 412.”

    She seemed confused. “Do you know who lives here?”

    “No,” I said quickly. “Let’s go upstairs.” I turned toward the elevator, Ashley following close behind. Why did I go to 312? On tonight of all nights?

    “Now, this is where you live, right?” Ashley asked, standing beside 412. “Because if you don’t actually live anywhere, I’m okay with that.”

    “No, I really live somewhere,” I said. “There’s a door and a few windows and a few rooms. It’s a shithole, mind you, but I do live there.” I set about unlocking the locks.

    Ashley watched me work my way through the system. “Paranoid?” she asked.

    “You have no idea.”

    The door swung open. I reached around it and flipped on the light. “After you,” I said.

    She walked in. Her eyes jumped around the blank walls, pausing where things should be but weren’t. “So, you live here?”

    “Yeah,” I replied.

    “Live as in just sleep ?” She paused. “How much time do you actually spend here?”

    “More than I should,” I said. “Too much.”

    “And what do you do?” she asked.

    “I have delusional fantasies.”

    Ashley walked over to the living room window. “And what do you look at? Headlines?”

    “I don’t spend a lot of time looking out that one,” I said. “Or any of the others, to be honest. You know, I don’t know what I do. But, in the recent past, I’ve spent most of my time here. I’ve been in a rut. Things haven’t been going that well.”

    She turned to face me. “How come?”

    “I can’t even answer that. It hasn’t been any worse than any other time, I guess. It’s just me. I’ve sort of lost the will to do anything constructive with my time. But I think I’m getting it back.”

    “Oh, because of me, I suppose,” she said. I scanned her face, finding some trace of sarcasm.

    “I think so,” I