Potential is not love

Marlene clicks through a lot of photos that aren’t hers. She invents the stories and makes tenuous links, validating her right to poke through other people’s business. It is okay for her to look at all of Joe’s 128 photos from his weekend at Golden Plains, because she is finding out whether he’s good boyfriend material. Looking through Julie’s photos makes her cry; she’s happy that Julie has found a sleek white dress and a smiling man. It was not okay for her to look through Luke’s girlfriend’s photos.

Luke’s Girlfriend is now either fat, or pregnant. Luke’s Girlfriend is cheerful, doesn’t wear make-up and works for those-less-fortunate. Even though Marlene would never wish her own chubbiness on anyone else she hopes that Luke’s Lovely Girlfriend has got fat fat fat.

Luke used to breathe words into Marlene’s ear, and up her skirt. He’d tell her about all the good he saw in her.

I could get lost in your smell. No one else makes me feel the way you do. You’re incredible. Hallmark will track Luke down one day. Marlene hopes he won’t have to pay; if there is a baby in Luke’s Girlfriend’s pudgy belly it will need that money.

When the arguments started, and the jealousy, and the pulling-in-every-which-way, Luke came to Marlene to say goodbye. Marlene resigned to be a Good Person. She told herself she would never flirt with him again, never wear the clothes he liked around him, and never call.

Now she is pushing 30, and sifting through photos on the internet, making up stories. And now, maybe, there is a little baby coming.

Heather