Forever Yours by Daniel Glattauer, Jamie Bulloch Page A

to surprise him? A second Venice? She loves him, definitely. He loves her more than anything.
    17.42:
She leaves the travel agent’s. She smiles. She’s happy. She’s thinking of him. She loves him. Pity. Pity. Pity. Now he’s got to let her out of his sight for a few minutes. Now she has to go home without him. Now he goes into the travel agent’s.
    18.00:
Here end the notes for the day. He will stay with her. Love binds the two of them together. Eternity welds them together. She is his light and he her shade. Neither of them can be alone anymore. When she breathes, he breathes too.
    He will keep guard. She inhales his proximity. He’s delighted. He’s delighted. He’s delighted they’ll be together in Amsterdam.
5
    Bianca: “Not feeling well, Frau Wangermann?” Her: “It’s just my circulation.” Bianca: “Do you want a Red Bull? I always have a Red Bull when I’m feeling dizzy.” Judith had sunk into her office chair and was staring at the scrunched-up ball in the wastepaper basket. The letter she had just read did not exist. The man who’d written it did not exist. Cut out. Delete. Forget. Erase. Burn. Scatter the ashes in the air.
    “Is it your ex?” Bianca asked. Judith sat up straight and gave her apprentice a look of astonishment. Bianca: “Is he still being a right pain?” Judith: “Yes, he is.” Bianca: “It takes some guys a hell of a long time before they get it.” Judith: “He’s watching me. He’s following my every step. He knows everything I’m doing.” Bianca: “Really? That’s bad. Like a ghost.”
    Judith: “Bianca?” Bianca: “Yes, boss?” Judith: “Would you mind walking home with me?” Bianca: “No, not at all. And if we see him we’ll tell him to piss off. It’s the only language some of them understand.” She showed Judith her raised middle finger.
    *
    “I’ll go up with you in the lift as well. You can never be too sure. I saw this film once, right, where the guy was waiting in the lift, right, and he came up behind the lady, right, and strangled her, with a red tie I think,” Bianca said. “Sounds great,” Judith said.
    She had only just begun to recover from the surveillance protocol when she noticed another dreadful plastic bag hanging from the door handle. She shuddered and grabbed onto Bianca’s arm.
    “I think I’ll stay with you for a little bit until you calm down,” Bianca said. “We could order some sushi.” Her: “Yes.” Bianca: “Shall I see what’s in the bag?” Her: “No, I don’t want to know.” Bianca: “Maybe it’s just some advertising and you’re getting worked up for no reason.” Her: “I’d really like not to care what it is.” Bianca: “But you do care. No offence, but you look totally knackered.”
    Bianca stayed for a few hours. Having her there did Judith the world of good. She tried out eye shadows, mascaras and nail polishes, improvised a little fashion show from the contents of Judith’s wardrobe, and was allowed to keep three T-shirts and a short dress, whose seams might just sustain her upper body for another three meals.
    “I don’t think he’s a serial killer,” she comforted her boss, who looked on as Bianca gobbled down the sushi. “I mean, when you talk to him he’s really nice. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. It’s just that he’s infatuated with you and he’s freaking out a bit at the moment. He’ll clear off soon enough.” Judith: “Really?” Bianca: “Did you sleep with him?” Judith: “Of course I did.” Bianca: “Maybe you shouldn’t’ve. I bet he’s thinking about that all the time now.” Her: “Bianca, really, I’d rather you didn’t…” Bianca: “O.K., I’m sorry.” Her: “That’s alright. Bianca, could you please see what’s in the bag on the door?”
    Bianca took out a letter and a small box. “It’s got a heart on it. Do you want me to read it to you?” Judith bit her lip and nodded. Bianca read: “Darling, why don’t you listen to your voicemail? How are