Sex, Lies and Bonsai by Lisa Walker

Author:Lisa Walker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-09-04T04:00:00+00:00

I email my piece to Sally, stand up and stretch. I feel calm. Jay likes me. I like him. It seems very simple. Can it really be that simple?

And what is more, he likes my writing. It made him laugh. I have a ridiculous idea. Perhaps he will fall in love with me by reading my writing — through words on the page alone. I am not the first person to think of this. Just look at the romantic poets. Writing is powerful.

On paper, I am all the things I am not in the flesh. I am eloquent, witty, funny, worldly, cool. I am Sooty Beaumont. I have many lovers and they never break my heart. Yes, he likes my writing. I will write for him. I will peel off my onion layers one by one and show him who I am. The idea draws me forward.

I open my wardrobe, looking for the right thing to wear to a Gary Jaworski gig in Lighthouse Bay. Usually this would be a task taking many changes of clothes, much hair pulling and often proving so difficult I would give up and stay home.

Tonight my hand alights on the perfect outfit straight away. I pull on the miniskirt, black tights and T-shirt and glance in the mirror. I look different. I am pale, but my skin is shining. My wayward hair is wayward in a cheeky, not ratty way and, for once, I don’t feel the need to cross my eyes to blur my outline.

I see my notebook lying on the bed — now is a good moment to update my pain dairy. This morning was a record low, but I am optimistic that I can do even better. While I am not cured yet, I am definitely on the up and up.

Monday (still): 51 days

Pain level: 3 (a new record low!)

Location: Indistinct

The bonsai is quiet tonight. I pick off its browning leaves one by one like plucking a daisy. I like you. I like you too. I like you. I like you too. I like you.

Tossing my car keys in the air, I catch them and float from the room.

Have fun.

I turn in the doorway. ‘Did you say something?’

But the bonsai speaks no more.

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