Waves washed gently against the beach, slowly eating at the message dug into the sand, written hours before. ' I love you'. The couple had long since left. I'd watched them, their youthful glee, their loving embraces, each one stabbing at my heart. Two hours I watched them, racing up and down the beach with that God-awful dog, oblivious to everything around them. Love? The girl's ring finger appeared to glint, so I can only imagine they were married. Or engaged. Probably at home now, curled up in front of a fire, happy together, with that sodding dog.

Anyway, down to brass tacks. Why the hell am I describing this? Well, because it happened. It happened and, although I've never met them, and probably never will, it struck me that Louise had left a void in my life. Louise was a girl I knew, worked at Marks and Spencer on Northumberland Street in Newcastle. Blonde, blue eyes, thin, but not too thin. Nice arse as I remember. We talked, she seemed nice enough. We went out for a couple of drinks one night. Things went quite well, if I remember rightly...

***

James strolled comfortably into the Pitcher and Piano, on the Newcastle queyside. He saw Louise at the bar and strode over, pulling up a seat. They exchanged greetings, then talked to one another about themselves, their day, the usual.
"So, what've you been up to?" Louise usually got in first with the questions.
"Not too bad, not too bad, hard day at the office, but hell, isn't it always?" He smiled, "You?"
"Er...not too bad either, to be honest...been thinking though."
"What about?"
"Well...this'll sound stupid. Are we a couple?" She blushed slightly and downed the remainder of her scotch.
"Well...I dunno. Why do you ask?" James looked slightly taken aback.
"Well, do you want to come back to my place? I dunno, for a coffee?"
"Er, sure, go on." He finished his drink, and they left together, getting into a taxi.

Half an hour later they were sat in a small apartment in Jesmond, on Louise's couch, both drinking coffee.
"You know," Louise said softly, "we could make quite a nice couple, don't you think?" She moved closer to him, setting her coffee down on the table.
"I dunno, maybe" Louise moved closer and put her hand on his chest.
"Why don't we find out?" She leaned over and kissed him.

***

We made love that night. It was then that I was at my happiest. I woke the next morning to find her standing at the foot of the bed wearing my shirt and carrying a plate which held my breakfast. I wolfed down the carefully made fry-up as she lay down beside me again. Once I'd finished I lay back and we fell asleep again.

We saw each other for about two and a bit years after that. Then we had a big fight, and drifted apart. We kept in touch after the split, and after a little while became friends again. She was raped and killed18 months after the split. She was 25.

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