lipstuck

I'm not sure I even got to the end of the sentence before the atmosphere changed. I realised mid-flow that it was a mistake.

This is what she heard: "We're lovers, your authority is gone, I can ask you personal questions".

I wanted to think it back inside my head. Suddenly I was aware of sounds from outside and the sealed world we'd been inhabiting was gone. She tapped me twice on the shoulder and right on cue, I stood up.

"This has been unusual and lovely. It probably shouldn't happen again".

She might just have said "class dismissed". I pulled on my clothes which were scattered all over the floor like a child's, and I felt pale and skinny and teenaged, getting dressed while this adult woman watched me.