The List by Doc

She had moved quickly…
He didn't remember meeting her, but she was now part of his daily life.
She hadn't asked permission.
She had just decided to be in his life.

He liked it.
Her determination, her curiosity, her disregard for his opinions.
She had just moved in.
Decisively.

His friends had either been unaware or – surprised.
He had opened the gates and invited her in, asking what she wanted.
She had told him.
He had folded.

There was never any invitation.
She didn’t seem to think any welcome was needed since her whims were law.
As for the others, she simply walked to the front of the line and said,
“Me first!”

It was flattering.
Being desired and chased and ordered about and wanted and used.
Not being asked.
Not being merely tolerated.

He had no idea what she wanted.
She had nodded, “No you don’t!”; she then had pulled out paper and pen and listed her desires and wants
As if writing a shopping list.
At the top the words: “What I want from you…”

She had told him to memorize the list, and… that…
He would be periodically tested and evaluated to see if he was ‘doing his job’ as she put it.
Her lists never used the word ‘please’.
They were simply bullet points.  Bare.  Spare.  Direct.

-----

Over time, her list evolved.
She sometimes added items, and  smiled as he did others.  Then she crossed them off her list.
Finally he asked, ‘What happens when I’ve done everything on your to-do list?”
She laughed.


“It never ends, my little moth.
I am your flame, and I will burn and you will flit around me (as moths do).
I will find new uses for you.”


“For a long, long time?” he asked.
She nodded.  Then she chuckled.  Then she started laughing.  She seemed caught up in the humor.
“Oh, yes!”
“For a very, very long time!”