Episode 949: Changes

“Sure,” he replied.

Lucy sighed and started up the next film, a title appropriately spooky for the season.

“Do you ever feel like your life is going round in circles?” Lucy asked before popping another piece of candy into her mouth. “I mean this has been my Halloween for the longest time, sitting at home, watching television and answering the door.”

“Suddenly not exciting enough for you?” He asked, not unkindly, not offended. “I lived an exciting life, trust me, it’s overrated.”

“I don’t mean excitement so much, I’m not the party type, I just, I guess it feels like as the years go by something should have changed. I keep wondering if it shouldn’t have changed. If there’s such a thing as too much routine? For it to be mentally healthy?”

“Are you okay? Depressed?”

She thought it over for a moment and shook her head. “I’m pretty happy. I like my job, I like my home and my quiet nights and my friends.”

“So maybe it’s best not to try to fix what isn’t broken. If you’re good with your routine, leave it be.”

Lucy rubbed his arm. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you with Ava, but you were right to try, you know, even though it hurt. It would have been worse to spend your life kicking yourself, wondering what if.”

“I know, you’re right. I just feel like I’m starting back at square one in moving on from her. It’s not great. So, from where I sit, if you’re content, if you’re happy, enjoy it, don’t go thinking yourself into a problem you don’t really have. What does it matter if your life is routine, if you like your routine?”

“Maybe you should be the school counselor.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “True, I’m happy and I shouldn’t ruin that by questioning it. And I definitely shouldn’t take it for granted when my best friend is going through an unhappy time. I have nothing to complain about.”

The doorbell rang.

“Nothing to complain about other than I’m hardly going to have any leftover candy at this rate.”

“We could start a new routine,” he joked. “Day after Halloween discount shopping.”

“Sounds sweet.” Lucy gave him a cheeky grin on her way to the door. She really was happy, it had been silly and wasteful to overthink, to take it for granted. As she pulled open the door she meant it when she said, “happy Halloween.”

“Are you my other mom? The child on her doorstep asked.

Episode 950: My Girl