Open Water

The narrator begins to talk about the “suppressions”. First, he describes being on Battersea Bridge, staring at the river as he talks to the woman. He expresses that their five days of constant contact and bed-sharing was significant. She argues that it was not, saying that it’s too complicated for her to pursue a relationship with him. When they talk again the following day, they keep things light until the woman reveals that she had sex with someone the night before for the first time since breaking up with Samuel. She senses that the narrator is upset, and he is, but he pretends he doesn’t care.

Later that day the narrator is going to a friend’s house, and he is stopped by the police. They tell him that he matches the description for someone who has been stealing in the area and say that he showed up out of nowhere. The police search the narrator, spreading the contents of his bag on the ground, then say that he is free to go. He walks the short distance to his friend’s house but stands in front of the door for a long time before getting an Uber back to his house.