Turmeric

“With tomatoes?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Just like you.”

I balance the full plates to the couch. I can hardly find Alba, in her huge sweater and warm jogging pants, among all the cushions and blankets. But there she is. So sweet, it's almost unbearable. “Thank you. Did you put turmeric on it?”
“Of course!”
I make myself comfortable on the couch next to her.

Alba is trying to eat a lot of turmeric and adds it to any dish where it makes the slightest bit of sense. She has read that it is supposed to be very healthy. Alba starts the stream. We watch the L-word. Again. We always watch it when we don't know what else to watch. She fishes a tomato out of her salad and says: “I missed you.”
I look at her from the side.
“What do you mean? When?”
“Just now. When you were in the kitchen.”
I laugh and lean against her.
“I missed you too. The worst 15 minutes of my life!”
She laughs too and kisses me on the cheek.

I start eating my salad. I've also sprinkled turmeric over my portion and I'm regretting it a little right now. The taste is intense.
Alba mumbles:
“Should we invite Lin and Elisa over again? We could have a games night.”
“Good idea. We haven't seen anyone for weeks, have we?”
She frowns. “That long? No ...”
I spear a piece of cheese on my fork.
“I think so. But I don't miss it. I mean, it's always nice to see our friends, but ... I don't know.”
“I feel the same way. We have each other. I never feel alone.”
I give her a smile.
“True.”

Then I add: “Do you think we're making a mistake? Are we overdoing it?”
She looks at me in surprise.
“What do you mean?”
I wave my fork in the air.
“Well, are we spending too much time together? Are we addicted or something?”
Alba laughs and stops my waving with her hand.
“What's that supposed to mean? No, I don't think so. You're the greatest person in the world and I have the best time with you. Why shouldn't I spend every second with you? That would be ... stupid.”
I laugh.
That makes me feel better.
I give her a kiss on the cheek and say:
“Sometimes it feels like we're one person.”
She beams and nods and laughs.
“I feel like that too. Isn't that great?”
I laugh too and lean into her even more.
I eat the salad.

The turmeric isn't so bad actually.