Maybe I should have walked away.
Maybe any sensible person would have.
But loneliness makes impossible things sound believable sometimes.
And deep down, I think I wanted someone to choose me badly enough that I ignored how strange the offer sounded.
So I shook her hand.
“Deal.”
At first, it was strictly practical.
I drove her places.
Organized her medication.
Fixed broken cabinet hinges.
Changed smoke detector batteries.
And she complained through all of it.
“You’re late.”
“It’s been three minutes.”
“Still late.”
“You’re impossible.”
