by Ava Zavora
To: Eden E
Baby bookish binary codes, get it right my dear.
I have boxed (trained not fought) since I was 15.
Are you bleeding then, is that the reason for your upside down stomach?
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 10:45 AM
To: Adam -
You can be so sharp and yet so obtuse! I guess it's because you're not an excitable person. I became nauseated the moment I read the word "Skype."
So you've never fought anyone, inside or outside the ring?
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From: Adam -
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 10:47 AM
To: Eden E
Sharp, OK. Obtuse, explain? I am not excitable, in any way.
My mentioning Skype made you feel nauseated? That is a shame, I hope you are in good order now.
I have fought people, many times, especially when I was younger, but never in a ring.
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 10:52 AM
To: Adam -
Nope, still nauseated.
What were you fighting for?
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From: Adam -
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 10:56 AM
To: Eden E
OK, now I have to ask, because it's becoming increasingly frequent, you keep avoiding questions. Obtuse?
Fighting for a plethora of reasons. I've not been in a physical conflict for years, however.
Why so nauseated?
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 11:00 AM
To: Adam -
I thought you were obtuse because you couldn't figure out that I was nauseated at the thought of a conversation with you. That's a horrid sentence which doesn't really mean what it sounds like. My explanation is getting worse so I'll stop here.
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From: Adam -
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 11:04 AM
To: Eden E
I think what you're trying to say is that you found the prospect daunting? I assure you, I will put you at ease.
When you made your voice recoding you said in so many words that our interaction was making you happy, is that still the case?
I'm preparing fish.
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 11:09 AM
To: Adam -
Not daunting. I'm scared that this thing that exists here, in words, in exchanges of voices, what keeps me in suspense until my inbox becomes bolded - is not real.
Do you laugh? Or are you one of those people who smile at something funny or open your mouth but no sound comes out?
Yes.
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From: Adam -
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 11:11 AM
To: Eden E
Well, it certainly is real. What "it" is I don't know, but real it is.
I do laugh, though it's rare. I have a wry smile usually. If I do laugh, it's around those I trust. When I was younger, some old friends nicknamed me "happy" for not laughing much.
I think you need to remain calm. Whatever will be, will be. What I do know is we have a great deal in common and we find it very easy to communicate with each other. Rarities I'd say.
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 11:19 AM
To: Adam -
Oh, no. I love to laugh. This could be a serious impediment.
What kind of fish? How are you preparing it? Is the neighbor's dog around? Tell me what it looks like where you are.
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From: Adam -
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 11:26 AM
To: Eden E
Not at all. There is a difference between laughing and having fun. And appreciating the humour in something doesn't need to be expressed always with a bellow.
Sea bass, lightly fried, with asparagus and some minted new potatoes. Basic today, I'm afraid. No dog, yet.
At the moment I am looking out of the kitchen windows and I can see the olive groves and sweeping hills, dry from all the sun. About 20 minutes ago a man walked past with a donkey and a cart, a salami strapped to his belt. I'd like to grow grapes but I haven't the foggiest where I'd begin.
If I am slow to reply I may be eating.
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 12:07 PM
To: Adam -
Do you cook every day? Is this where you live most of the year?
Did you shave today - your face, I mean. Do you have a stubble?
Do you have scars? Tattoos?
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From: Adam -
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 12:46 PM
To: Eden E
I cook every day, unless I have a dinner meeting. Some weeks that can be many days, others only 1 or 2.
I only really moved here a few months ago, so I'm not officially established yet.
I normally shave my head and face every day. My hair grows quickly. I did so today; however, the three days prior I didn't, and my face looked like a gorilla.
No tattoos. Plenty of scars.
How is your day going?
When was the last time you were in a relationship?
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 1:01 PM
To: Adam -
Why do you use a razor and not an electric shaver?
I want to know about your scars.
Being a Monday, it's busy. My nausea's subsided so I was able to eat some rabbit food.
My last relationship ended 2 1/2 months ago.
I'm going for my lunch walk now.
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From: Adam -
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 1:04 PM
To: Eden E
Electric shavers are useless.
There are many, each one with its own story. Select a part of the body and I'll tell you a story.
Glad to hear the nausea subsided and you're back to "eating" - if it could be called that. I would like to feed you a proper meal.
What happened in your relationship? How long did it last?
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 2:24 PM
To: Adam -
Your hands.
We had a disagreement. It lasted 2 months.
When was your last relationship and how long did that last?
A chat screen suddenly popped up in the corner of Eden's web browser.
From: Adam
Date: Aug. 6
Subject: Chat with Adam -
To: Eden E.<@bookbohemian.com>
Adam: Are you there? I don't really know what I'm doing but I'm trying this.
Eden: This is interesting.
Adam: My hands, there are scars from being hit by a car and when I hit the ground it caught the back of my fingers.
Adam: My last relationship was two years ago. It lasted just under 3 years.
Adam: What was the disagreement?
Eden: Must I say? You tell me first why yours ended and then I'll go.
Adam: I was having a difficult time in my life, financially and personally.
Adam: My close friend, he was 27, died of a heart attack.
Adam: It was a tough time, and in
stead of supporting me, she slept with a mutual friend we had.
Eden: I feel terrible. I'm sorry I forced you to reveal all that.
Adam: Don't be. It doesn't cause me any sadness now.
Adam: Well, my friend passing still does but those two? Nothing.
Eden: Mine seems quite petty, but it hurt a lot at the time.
Adam: Tell me.
Eden: It's going to sound as if I didn't try hard enough, but believe me, I had reasons for doing what I did.
Eden: To sum it up: We were having a really stupid argument over the phone and he said, "Either you see me tomorrow night or we're breaking up."
Eden: He wouldn't budge. So we broke up.
Adam: You mustn't have been right for each other then.
Eden: I guess.
Eden: How about your chest? Any scars there?
Adam: Yes.
Adam: What made you ask that?
Eden: I don't know. Do you not want to say?
Adam: I have one there.
Eden: And?
Adam: But that one is for another time.
Adam: At the very least, I would only explain it by voice.
Eden: You don't want me to ever see your face, do you?
Eden: Sometimes you have a tone as if you know something that I don't.
Adam: What is the relevance of that question?
Adam: And it's not true. And I'm sure I know plenty you don't know.
Eden: I mean that you know something about this thing, whatever it is, that I don't.
Eden: You're not typing. That means you're thinking, censoring what you're about to type.
Adam: What thing?
Adam: Stop over thinking my dear. I wasn't thinking.
Adam: I was changing my music to Thelonious Monk.
Eden: I have to print something out and then I'll be back. So you have time.
Adam: OK.
Eden: Do you ever listen to your intuition?
Adam: Often, but I don't always follow it.
Adam: So what's this paranoid conspiracy theory you want to project upon me?
Eden: Is your intuition not very accurate then?
Adam: It is, often, but intuition is not rooted in fact. It's rooted in emotion.
Adam: It can be an accurate prediction but there are always multiple potential outcomes in a situation.
Eden: You don't consider yourself an emotional person?
Eden: You keep a pretty cool head most times? All the time?
Adam: Most of the time.
Adam: I am passionate
Adam: Not emotional
Adam: I am composed
Adam: Not rigid.
Adam: You follow a pattern:
Adam: Ask questions
Adam: Get answers
Adam: Then ignore my questions.
Adam: Typical woman.
Adam: Enter smiley :)
Eden: I am not "bleeding" right now.
Eden: But I will be in a week or so.
Eden: So I'm liable to take offense at anything and everything.
Eden: Typical woman.
Eden: Enter bared fangs ' '
Adam: Haha, noted.
Adam: I was going to ask you about that anyway so I can put it in my calendar and conveniently lose my internet connection.
Adam: So your intuition is telling you I am keeping something huge from you and I am somehow misleading you, right?
Eden: My intuition is telling me that not everything is what it seems.
Adam: Nothing is ever what it seems. But in our case, I've been straight with you thus far.
Adam: Say HELLO if you see this sentence please
Eden: HELLO if you see this sentence please
Adam: Ok thanks (moved from Mac to iPad).
Adam: But having never used this I wasn't sure if I set it up right on my iPad.
Adam: So, back to me being an axe murderer.
Eden: Since we're not face-to-face, I can't really tell if you mean me harm.
Eden: If you did, I'd feel chills in the back of my neck.
Adam: I don't mean you harm.
Adam: Why did you tell me about your thighs?
Eden: Because you were talking about legs.
Adam: True indeed. Thighs are important to me in a woman.
Adam: I was surprised you made the comment is all.
Eden: Well then, there's more.
Eden: They're quite hairy.
Adam: I wear contact lenses.
Adam: Sarcasm or serious?
Eden: I wear glasses most times. Contacts other times.
Adam: Well?
Eden: Are you worried about my hirsute thighs?
Eden: Will your internet connection "fail" tomorrow?
Adam: Haha, I'm not worried but I'd like to know.
Adam: Though now I believe you were being sarcastic.
Eden: Ever see Star Wars - Chewbacca?
Adam: I've never seen any Star Wars films. But I'm picturing a hairy alien
Eden found a Google image of Chewbacca and sent it via chat. Adam replied with a voice message of an exaggerated whisper, “Sexy”, which made Eden burst with a laugh.
Eden: That hurt one of my ribs.
Adam: See, I am causing you harm.
Eden: Liar and a murderer.
Eden: Say my name.
Adam sent her another voice message with a mocking "Edie."
Adam: Why?
Eden: NO. My name.
This time he replied with a quiet "Eden," which made her sigh. She wanted him to breathe it into her ear softly so that no one else could hear. Her name on his lips said rapturously. Oh, that voice. Eden's cheeks became heated.
Eden: Thank you.
Adam: Now explain.
Eden: I just wanted to hear it.
Adam: What does that have to do with your intuition?
Eden: Absolutely nothing. I just wanted to hear you say my name.
Adam: Ha, dominatrix.
Eden: Would you mind?
Adam: Now you're hurting my ribs.
Adam: Though beginning to know you.
Adam: That one could be a genuine question.
Adam: Thinking??
Eden: You're beginning to know me and what do you know now?
Adam: I was implying that you could genuinely have dominatrix tendencies.
Eden: Oh?
Adam: That's the second time I've said so and you haven't denied or refuted my suggestion.
Eden: When was the first time?
Adam: 2 minutes ago: "Ha, dominatrix."
Eden: Oh.
Adam: You strike me as a woman who harbours dark fantasies.
Eden: I wouldn't know if I had those types of tendencies.
Adam: You wouldn't?
Eden: Haven't.
Eden: Yet.
Adam: Ah, I see.
Eden: I'm in the middle of work. I'm alternately laughing and now ....
Eden: Shouldn't you be in bed??? Asleep????
Adam: I am in bed, but I am wide awake, mother.
Adam: Though would it be more convenient for me to leave you be?
Eden: Convenient. Yes. That sounds good.
Adam: Sorry, does that mean leave you be or not?
Eden: Good night. I'll talk to you tomorrow?
Adam: It's only 00:35 here.
Adam: Yes, we have a Skype TALK date, remember?
Eden: Okay. I'll look up my Skype account and figure it out. Say good night.
Adam: Good night my dear
Eden: NO, say good night.
A sweet "good night" voice message instantly appeared.
Eden: Thank you and good night.
She closed their chat with regret.
But Adam wasn't ready to let go just yet. And neither was Eden.
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From: Adam -
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 3:37 PM
To: Eden E
Why do you always abruptly want to disap
pear around this time? On this occasion I didn't want to leave you.
Also, you never remark on my calling you mother, why?
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From: Eden E
Date: Mon, Aug 6, at 3:39 PM
To: Adam -
Because at round this time, I'm horrified to discover that I have done very little work.