We grow up in spite of it

"I think she was abused as a child, perhaps starved," was Lynsey's take on this Linsey that Casey met.

Casey shook the thought as he vacuumed the living room with his little modern necessity. It gave him goosebumps to think of her kept in a cage in a dank basement somewhere.

It couldn't be like that, he thought to himself. "I really wish you wouldn't bring up such rot." He very well knew Lynsey was in the room with him, but when he looked up, his friend was not there.

This pained him to think he was losing touch. Seriously, he would not go out again, unless he had too. He didn't need to meet people like that girl with the toothy grin, but she was on his mind even with his eyes open.

He put the vacuum in its place and went to fluff the pillows on the couch. Suddenly, he felt so sad. Why did it matter so much? Her?

Yes, she was a bit of a savage. But happy-go-lucky too. Like a gift on Valentine's day. It was all so unexpected. He was certain he might spend the way her. Or was it, he really wanted to do.

Honestly, he just wanted to forget her. He did. But he couldn't.

Casey wondered where he might find Linsey, again.