White Flag

There was a brief silence from the other end as if Mrs Malcolm was processing her daughter's complaint.

"Richmond! Avoiding you?! How...? Did something go wrong? Did you two fight last night? Talk to me, baby."

Jasmine wiped her streaming tears with the back of her hand as she sat down on her bed. She took in a deep breath to relax and coordinate her thoughts before responding.

"No, mum. We didn't fight. As a matter of fact, Richmond has been extra nice to me. He does everything to make me happy. But the one thing he has been avoiding of late is touching me. It's been over a month and he wouldn't make love to me. I know him to be a sexually active young man, but still, he wouldn't touch me."

"Really?!"

"Yes, Mum," Jasmine's heart ached as she recalled how Richmond acted indifferently to her last night.