Title: Alex & Zee
First published: 1994
Description: It maddens Alex that there has never been anyone in her life she has liked as much as Zee. Never been anyone who could make her laugh when she felt ready to put her fist through the wall. Never been anyone she's felt could withstand all forces of her personality, both negative and positive. Pushing through the turnstile, she thinks he'd probably be better off without her.

He could smoke himself to death, drink himself to death, sit in the bath and never clean the ring; he could think about whatever he thinks about for hours. He wouldn't have her to remind him that the day is over, that it's meal time, bed time. He could just stay the same twenty-four hours a day, an amoeba; a simple microscopic organism. A blob.

.

When Daisy leaves to do her volunteer work at the hospital, Zee pulls down the blinds and unplugs the phone. Sitting in her pink bathtub, he thinks it's wonderful that he can unplug the phone and not answer the door; that he can disconnect. He couldn't disconnect with Alex around. Now he doesn't have to do anything, doesn't have to go to the park or a bar because he doesn't have to keep out of her way .... Leaning his head back against the rim, he tries to decide what to do with his day.

He could go for a walk, or maybe a movie. He could do his laundry or go for a donut. He sets his feet on either side of the faucet, thinking that it's quite peaceful really. Without her. Maybe it's better this way....
Subjects: Canadian fiction
LC classification: PR9199.3.S839 A79 1994