Happy People Read and Drink Coffee by Agnès Martin-Lugand

able to stand hearing about it.”
    As I hung up, three things were clear to me: Felix would never change, I missed him, and my neighbor didn’t deserve a second thought. I quickly pulled the curtains closed.
    It was October. I made an effort to try to start reading again. But that afternoon, it gave me no solace. I didn’t know if it was because of the dreary detective novel by Arnaldur Indridason I’d gotten stuck into, or the draft I felt on my back. My hands were frozen. The cottage was even more silent than usual. I stood up, rubbed my arms to warm them up, and stopped for a moment in front of the bay window; the weather was bad. Heavy clouds blocked out the sky; night would fall earlier tonight. I regretted not knowing how to light a fire. When I touched one of the radiators, I was surprised; it wasn’t hot. I would die of the cold if the heating was broken. I wanted to turn on a light. The first lamp remained hopelessly dark. I flicked on a different switch with the same result. I tried all the switches. No electricity. Total darkness. And me inside. All alone.
    Even though it cost me dearly, I ran and banged on Edward’s door. I knocked so hard on the wooden door that I ended up hurting my hand. I moved back a little to try to look through a window. If I had to be alone for even one more minute, I’d go mad. I heard some funny noises behind me and was afraid.
    â€œCan you tell me what you’re doing?” someone asked behind me.
    I turned around quickly. Edward was looming over me at full height. I stepped aside to get away from him. My fear became totally irrational.
    â€œI made a mistake . . . I . . . I . . .”
    â€œYou did what?”
    â€œI shouldn’t have come. I won’t bother you again.”
    Still watching him, I started backing away onto the road. My heel hit a stone and I found myself flat on my back, my butt in the mud. Edward walked over to me. His look was sour but he reached his hand out to me.
    â€œDon’t touch me.”
    He raised one eyebrow and stood still.
    â€œJust my luck to run into a crazy Frenchwoman.”
    I got myself onto all fours to stand up. I could hear Edward’s bitter laughter. I ran to my house and double-locked the door to barricade myself in. Then I took refuge in my bed.
    In spite of the blankets and my sweaters, I was shivering. I squeezed my wedding ring tightly. It was pitch black. I was afraid. I was sobbing so hard I could barely breathe. I curled up in a ball. My back ached because I was trying to curl up tightly to fight the shivers. I bit my pillow to stop myself from screaming.
    I drifted in and out of sleep. The electricity didn’t miraculously come back on during the night. I turned to the only person who could help me, even if it was only by phone.
    â€œShit, some people are asleep,” Felix shouted. It was the second time I’d called him in the past 24 hours.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said and started to cry again.
    â€œWhat’s happened?”
    â€œI’m cold, I’m in the dark.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI haven’t had any electricity since yesterday afternoon.”
    â€œAnd you couldn’t find anyone to help you?”
    â€œI went to my neighbor’s, but I didn’t dare disturb him.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI’m thinking he might be a serial killer.”
    â€œHave you been smoking sheep’s wool?”
    â€œI don’t have any electricity, help me.”
    â€œDid you check to see if a fuse blew?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œGo and see.”
    I listened to Felix. My cell phone still glued to my ear, I went and reset the fuse box. All the lights and the appliances came on.
    â€œWell?” Felix asked.
    â€œIt worked, thank you.”
    â€œYou’re sure you’re OK?”
    â€œYes, go back to sleep. I’m really sorry.”
    I hung up right away. I slumped down on the ground. I was definitely incapable of