Don't You Forget About Me

by Mhairi McFarlane

and I notice the charm of working for someone who remembers your name and uses it.

spend an entire day treating yourself as you’d wish to be treated. Take yourself for margaritas, see a film you fancy, have a long walk. Buy something frivolous which brings you joy, order a takeaway. Get sheets with high thread count and lie like a starfish on them, naked.

I’ll date you if you fetch my coat,” alright, Lady Penelope,’ Lucas says, with a grin.

It doesn’t matter if you take wrong turns. Arriving somewhere you want to be, in the end, is what counts.

‘I wondered if you wanted someone to help zip your dress up before a night out. I wondered if you wanted someone to call first in a crisis. I wondered if you wanted someone to text to bring you fish and chips when you can’t be arsed with a proper dinner. I wondered if you wanted someone in your corner when you visit your family, someone who will tell them how lucky they are to have you. I wondered if you wanted someone to fetch the Lucozade when you have the flu. I wondered whether, if that comedian shitbag ever comes within ten paces of you, I can hit him in the face. To be honest if I see him, I will probably do that whether I’m your boyfriend or not because he is an utter shitbag and he has it coming. No court in the land would convict.’

‘I wondered, Georgina, if you could imagine being in love with me again, the way I’m in love with you. And that given you’re the best thing to ever happen to me, if you could give me the chance to try to be the best thing that ever happened to you.’