A specific young lady and a specific young gentleman are both members of my university social club. They had been dating, but broke up a few weeks ago amidst much drama. By "much drama" I mean the campus police got involved, as they were unable to return each other's property in a mature manner. I was friends with both of them, and did my best to counsel patience, politness, etc., with little effect. Ah, to be 19 and in love…

Anyway, the young lady has become involved with another young man recently. Which is none of my business. But when I came into the club's room after lunch today, she was present, and I noticed a good dozen small bruises around her neck.

This drew my attention, for two reasons. Primus, during my early high school years, I amused myself by reading my mother's professional books, many of which were about abusive relationships and the problems thereof. Secundus, as a Marine NCO, I had to know if my troops were getting into fights and not telling me about it. So, without even thinking about it, and while maintaining a small-talk conversation, I stared at her neck, trying to decide if the bruises were "digital marks" caused by choking fingers.

She noticed me staring, blushed, and pulled her shirt collar up. At which point I decided they didn't look like digital marks. "Hmmm," I said to myself, and I knew it was me because I recognized the voice.* "How could she have gotten those marks? They don't look like fight injuries, but I don't think she sticks her head into aircraft inspection panels on shipboard and gets bounced into the hatch edges by the waves. What other possible way is there for a young lady to get bruises on her neck? And why would a young lady be embarassed about them?"

Then, of course, slow old me caught up. Ahem. As I said before, it has been some time since I was young and in love…

P.S. When she showed up to chorus tonight, she was wearing a scarf. Excellent choice, that.

* Joke courtesy of my friend Iggy.

Posted by: Boviate at 08:19 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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