Short Story: Phase II

“Relax”, she said,” it’s just a phase – you’ll grow out of it, or above it, or around it or whatever…” He said, “what if I can’t relax, can’t grow out of it, above it, around it or whatever?”

“Well, then”, she said, you’re fucked. Your phase is up, might as well pack it in, give up. You’re never gonna be anything. Much less anything else”.