"It's been a year, D. A year today"
"Yep. Yep, it has"
We sit there in silent awkwardness, him not really knowing what to say and me not wanting to say it.
I can feel the cork on the bottle loosen slightly.
"I.........never mind"
I stuff it back in, I ram that stopper down as hard as I can. I can feel the bottle buzz and hum slightly, as if the things within have awakened in anticpation of freedom.
I know that I mustn't let them out. I know what nastiness lies within, I know what will happen if somehow that stopper fails and those things are allowed to come out.
I know that I have to keep them in, because I have a life, I have.....I have.....
I want to let them out.