All These Years

There's no question, Will was my best friend in college. We both graduated, moved on, and succeeded in other things. Yet, I always missed the easy intimacy of our friendship. I could never make another friend like that, not even after so many years.

We drifted apart. It was a silly spat about him dabbling in the occult. The surprise was mine when Will called me one night to catch up. He had suffered a few setbacks, lost his marriage and business, and was literally about to be out on the street. Without a thought I said, "C'mon stay with us. We'll get you patched up." Anticipating his next thought, I offered, "Sarah will love it. Text you the details."

Sarah was indeed fine with a houseguest, provided that we establish a few rules. She didn't want to wind up "catering" to him, and it wasn't going to be forever. It was my job to deliver the message. I caught Will alone unpacking in the guest room. Rooms, really. It's a big house.

I tried to deliver Sarahs's commandments, but felt disarmed when I couldn't read the look on his face. Finally, I broke script with, "Gawd, it's great to see you again!"

What happened next felt like falling out a window. Will stepped forward, smiling, arms outstretched, as if to give me a hug. His embrace tightened, and his voice said with deliberate clarity, "I will dress you up as a woman and train you to obey." I suddenly couldn't move a muscle. The voice continued, "You want this." I did, albeit in a confused and detached way. A question seemed to be forming in my mind. "Yes, I will take your lovely wife too. You will both obey."

As I walked away down the hall, everything was now clear to me.