The Furthest Water Cooler We flirted a great deal when I went to the water cooler. This was why my cup was so small, though it never explained why I went to the furthest water cooler in the office. She teased me about this from time to time during our e-mail conversations, though she teased me even more if I went to the other. Both of us were seeing other people.

We went for lunch one day. An extended one, on a Friday. We walked the busy downtown streets, talked about our lives and loves. She told me at length about the places she'd been, how she traveled without pause, never staying in a single place more than a year.

One Wednesday night, we went out to a bar; her, I, my girlfriend. I don't understand what I expected from the evening. Clearly I wanted to spend time with her. It was so apparent that I was the only one who couldn't see it.

My girlfriend got jealous that night, beyond arguing, to the point of silence, and when I hugged my co-worker and said goodnight, I remember why I forgot all about the woman I was with. I was attracted to her ability to escape.  ¶ 8:04 PM