Every time I step into her apartment, I remind myself of the rules. The rules that keep me from getting trapped in this affair. I’ve learned to be meticulous, almost paranoid, about my exit strategy. It’s a dance of caution and desire, a balance I’ve perfected over time.

I keep my car keys, shoes, and clothes strategically placed between the bed and the bedroom door. They’re within arm’s reach, ready to be grabbed at a moment’s notice. I never bring more than the bare minimum into the room — no personal items, no traces of my presence. It’s a calculated move, ensuring that nothing is left behind, nothing that could tie me to this place after I’m done.

Each time we meet, I’m acutely aware of the ticking clock. I savour the moments, but I never let myself get too comfortable. I know that when the time comes to leave, it has to be swift and decisive. There’s no room for hesitation, no second-guessing. When I choose to end this affair, it’ll happen quickly. There will be no debates, and there’ll be no looking back.

I’ve rehearsed the exit in my mind countless times. I can see it clearly as the sky is blue: the swift gathering of my things, the quiet slip out the door, the drive away without a backward glance. It’s a plan that gives me a sense of control, a way to protect myself from the emotional entanglement that affairs inevitably bring.

But for now, I’m still here, caught in the allure of forbidden moments. I know it’s a dangerous game, but the thrill is intoxicating. I tell myself I’m prepared and can walk away whenever I choose. And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough to keep me from falling too deep.

As I lie next to her, I can feel the weight of my decisions. The exit strategy is my safety net, my way of maintaining a semblance of control in a situation that’s anything but. It’s a delicate balance, one that I navigate with care, always ready to make my escape.

-Mitchell

Mitchell Felding is a character in SEETHINGS. He’s entered a relationship with Nina under extreme caution, prepared to leave her the second things turn sour. To him, their arrangement is temporary. He knows Nina from another life. They dated decades ago and were set to marry when she abruptly ended it, leaving him disappointed and brokenhearted. They parted and lived different lives for nearly two decades.

Nina’s marriage to Lindesay didn’t last. She caught him with the babysitter, and that sealed their fate. The custody battle that followed was awful. She was bitter and angry over it, but at the end of that war, she was left alone. Mitchell called her out of the blue and he sounded like a breath of fresh air. Happy memories came flooding back. Their former teenage romance was rekindled once again.

Mitchell remembers the breakup as though it happened yesterday. The tragic ending took him by surprise. He predicts this new relationship will end for the same reasons. While their lovemaking is well-matched and brings them sexual fulfilment, he knows it does not lead to a happy-ever-after story. Their relationship is time-limited; therefore, if it’s to end, it will end on his terms… this time.

Internalized mind play between two former lovers during the throes of passion is just one part of SEETHINGS. How these two second-life lovers come to make contact again matters more. How it ends makes up another significant section.

You want to know how it ends, right?