Eric was feeling down. Here he was, 23 years old, with a good job in computer repair, and a pleasant house that he was renting, but life had gone wrong. Amy, his longtime girlfriend who had been living with him had left. She said it was because her employer had transferred her to an office in a distant city. Eric suspected that she had requested, or at least, not resisted the transfer.
Eric heated some left-over pasta from the fridge and washed it down with a beer. A miserable meal to match the miserable world outside. There had been freezing wind and rain all day. It was now dark and lightning was flashing in the sky. At least the heater was working. Eric flicked through the TV channels but could find nothing of interest. Finally he found and old favourite DVD and loaded it into the player. He sat in his most comfortable chair with another beer and pressed the buttons on the remote control. Eventually the screen came to life and the show began. This made him feel even more lonely. He and Amy used to sit together to watch DVDs and cuddle and fondle each other. Eric had some very pleasant memories of Amy's breasts. And when he got an erection, he had to do all the fondling himself. It was little comfort to remember the quote that "masturbation is sex with someone you love."
Then there was an almighty clap of thunder and the power failed. No lights, no heat and no DVD. Eric felt his way out to the kitchen where he kept a battery-powered light he used for camping. With this he wandered back to his chair and pondered his future. Should he stay here and hope for another girl like Amy? Should he move to a small apartment and save money? Should he go off and chase Amy? There was no easy answer.
While Eric was trying to sort out his thoughts, the power came back on. After a few attempts he persuaded the DVD to start playing where he had left off and sat back hoping to escape life's problems. Perhaps he needed another drink ...
After about half an hour, there was a knock at the door. "Who on earth comes out on a night like this?" was his obvious thought as he made his way down the hallway. He switched on the light and opened the door to find a slim young lady looking very anxious.
"Hello," she said, "I'm sorry to bother you at such a time, but I was wondering whether you could help me. I am Ruth, a friend of Amy's, and live across the street. I see that the lights have come on along the street but mine aren't working. Amy says you deal in electrical things, so I thought you may be able to help. My real problem is that I am writing a thesis on my computer and need to keep working to meet the deadline."
"Sure," replied Eric. "I've seen you walking along the street sometime. Come and stand by my heater while I grab my lamp and a coat."
In a couple of minutes the pair cautiously made their way down the path, across the road and up the stairs of Ruth's apartment block. Eric shone his light around the foyer and stairs, looking for the electrical box. As Ruth unlocked her door, Eric found what he sought and was able to switch on a circuit breaker and get some light inside Ruth's apartment.
"I'd better come in and check you have power where you do the computing," he commented.
"Yes, come in and check it all while I pour you a drink. Would you like a rum and coke, or prefer something warmer on a night like this?"
"Rum and coke would be perfect," replied Eric, not sure of what to make of an almost unknown young lady offering him a drink.
So Eric sat on a couch in the room that served as Ruth's study, dining and TV room while Ruth busied herself in the kitchen. When she returned with the drinks, Ruth sat in what was obviously her favourite chair.
"How does a student like yourself afford a place like this?" asked Eric.
"Ah, my parents are hardworking, strict protestant types who have saved quite a bit of money and don't want their little daughter mixing with 'the wrong crowd.' They bought this place partly as an investment, and partly to keep me away from the evils of the world," replied Ruth.
"And have they succeeded?" asked Eric with a chuckle.
"Yes, I have learned to live by keeping to myself and studying hard. But it hasn't been so successful socially. I have few friends."
"I'm not sure how well I'm doing socially these days," added Eric. "You might not have noticed but Amy has left me and moved far away."
"That's terrible," replied Ruth. "I used to admire the way you and Amy were as a couple. I used to secretly envy you!"
"Well, envy us no longer," replied Eric. "Our world has fallen apart. I am thinking of moving away and downsizing. Your life is actually more stable than mine!"
Ruth left the room to refresh the drinks. Eric wondered how much more computer work she would do this evening.
"Tell me about your field of study," asked Eric when Ruth returned.
"I am studying for an advanced degree in particle physics," was Ruth's reply. "I know a lot about how particles behave according to set rules, but can never work out the rules governing human behaviour!"
"I have similar trouble," replied Eric. "I was fortunate to meet up with Amy who understood all those things so well. I am lost without her."
"I was actually quite envious of Amy. She had a better figure than myself and knew more of the social graces. I've always felt I was too thin where it matters and too awkward with people. People see me as a nerd. And I have always thought Amy did rather well in having you as her partner."
"Thin is considered very desirable in the fashion world. The world is full of people trying to lose weight - mostly without success!" was Eric's reply.
"I don't know much about boys," Ruth replied, "but I know they like to see some fullness around the bust and the bottom. I have neither. I used to think Amy had about the right sized breasts and used to imagine you playing with them!"
"That's very naughty of you!" replied Eric. "But it is true that I used to enjoy Amy's breasts. I used to get turned on by them and then proceed to other activities!"
