I opened the door and the last person in the world I expected to see was standing there.

"We need to talk." Annie said.

She looked exhausted as if the trip had been excessively long. I had no doubt the reason for it had made it any easier for her. I could see her husband in the car, not specifically looking at me but I could feel him doing his best to measure me, and try to understand the 'why' of it all.

Some things, I knew, were beyond understanding. You could only hope to get past them.

One of those questions was why after 30 years of marriage would she go looking for something else. While every relationship had it's ups and downs, why did he receive a book from a stranger one day that was about regaining trust with an unfaithful spouse?

I looked at her for a moment and reflected again as I did when we had our short, but wonderful fling together. She didn't look her age, that was one thing that wouldn't change. There was almost a mist around her that allowed you to see her as she was in her prime. In those days where getting older wasn't something to think about. Life had a way of regaining your attention and as a basic religion, made you pay homage to it. Her emergency gall bladder surgery was one of those ways. She had told me about the moment of clarity just before she went under, and how she was sure that she wouldn't wake up again and how all the meaningless affairs she had had were strung around her. But no god or avatar was there to tell her anything.

"Just keep between us, he starts anything and you will be the one to pay the price."

"I came all this way to ask one question, why? Didn't we have something together? When we were together at that motel I never would have believed this would happen."

"Annie, I don't owe you anything. I know I was just a stone you stepped on as you made your way. You just have to admit that you aren't a good judge of people, or perhaps you are and you wanted all this to land on your head.

"Not what you expected though, I know. You certainly expected me to fade away as all your previous lovers had done and not let your husband in on the secret life you have.

"Why is simple, I needed a friend while I dealt with some very bad things and instead I got you - needing and grasping and capitalizing on my vulnerability.

"You got off easy. So get back in your car and tell your husband to drive you back now."

"That's it?" Annie asked in a dead voice. I suspected she thought that her charm would again save her and that I would take responsibility for everything she wished to shed.

"You really need to evaluate all those affairs now. If I were you, I'd move and try to recreate the life you had. It should work for the time Steve has left."

She pulls her head up at the last remark as if she had been slapped and walks back to the car.

Steve stares at me, seeing the look on his wife's face.

I stare back, forcing him to break the silent contest between us.

Winning something that day no matter if it was as meaningless as everything else.