The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-FIVE      Olivia sat in Susan’s hospital room staring at the monitor next to her bed. She had been designated with the morning watch and Susan wasn’t happy with it.     “You don’t have to stay,” she said as she stared at the television above Olivia’s head.     “Doesn’t work that way,” she replied. “We’re here … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Five

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-FOUR      Gray stared at the boxes lined against the wall of Olivia’s place. They were uniform in size, had been neatly labeled by room, and numbered. It was perhaps the neatest packing job he had ever seen. “Did you pack all this?” he asked as she loaded the dishwasher.     “No. I had a … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Four

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-THREE      “Thanks,” Zane said as the bartender placed three glasses of beer in front of him. He spun on his heel with the three glasses and walked to the table where Chris, Gray, Thom, and Simon sat. “Gray, Simon.”     “Thanks,” Gray said, grabbing his beer and sliding Simon’s to him. Taking a drink … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Three

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-TWO      “Hello. How many?” the hostess asked as the door closed behind Gray.     “I’m meeting two people here,” he answered. “They’ve already been seated.”     The hostess nodded. “Smoking or non?”     “Non.”     “Then they’re seated that way,” she answered as she pointed to her right.     Gray nodded and walked in the direction of her … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-Two

The Dumbing Donw of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY-ONE      “How many sexual partners are too many sexual partners?” Olivia asked as she stared at Dean in the chat window that was open on her computer. She watched as he furrowed his brow and then sighed.     “I don’t know,” he answered, looking at her in the chat window that was open on … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty-One

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY TWENTY      Staring at the sage green waiting room walls, Olivia felt butterflies in her stomach. She looked across the room and saw an elderly woman smile at her. She smiled in return and shifted in her seat.     Leaning in towards her, Gray asked, “Are you okay?”     Olivia nodded. “Yeah,” she answered. “Is it … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Twenty

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY NINETEEN      “Can I ask you a question?” Gray asked, sitting on the coffee table in front of Olivia.     “Of course,” she answered, looking at him. “Is everything okay?”     He nodded and took a deep breath. “I’d like to preface this conversation with please don’t jump to conclusions which I know doesn’t really work, … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Nineteen

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY EIGHTEEN      “Do you think guys have a tendency to text or call?” Heather asked as the their waitress dropped a basket of bread onto their table. “I mean, I’m on the lines of thinking one shouldn’t wait three days to call unless you’re like Olivia and get wrapped up in your creative projects, … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Eighteen

The Dumbing Down of Love (720 Hours in a Relationship) DAY SEVENTEEN      “You’ve reached Olivia. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”     Gray hung up the phone without leaving a message. He tossed the phone onto the other end of his couch with a sigh. He hadn’t heard from Olivia since the day before and he was more than slightly annoyed, … Continue reading The Dumbing Down of Love: Day Seventeen