Long Distance then Living Together

 We were apart for two years. During that time Katie and I only stayed together through words. Every night we talked for an hour before bed. We saw each other on long weekends when we could drive, then later fly, the distance, but it was hard not seeing each other for months. I remained faithful. She did too, I believe. Somehow we had lost those communication skills when living together.
In the olden days, during that nocturnal hour on the phone, we embraced the day’s memory, sharing it with the person closest to us. Neither had an ear to speak into except the others. Those were two miserable years apart.
Now that I was around her for almost 8 waking hours daily, what did I have to say that I’d not already said, couldn’t be put off, or she did with me?
“I got carrots for you.”
“I was with you when you bought them.”
“They could have been for something else!”
“For what? You don’t cook!”
“No, and I don’t want to when you say things like that.”
“Then that’s best for both of us.”
These were not flare ups which consolatory sex rectified. These fights raged ad infinitum, like Jupiter’s Great Red Spot,  but this perpetuity was not unique to our relationship. Think of your lovers and your arguments.


We occasionally slept in separate rooms and talked via phone to rekindle that communication. I don’t feel it improved anything.