[...] ‘It seems to me you don’t know the first thing about love,’ it began, and I don’t know how many times I’ve written that in an email to Xavier. Over and over again we had these spats where we shot down the other’s conception of love. You don’t know what love is! – You have no idea what it means to love someone! – You have no heart! –You are a narcissist! – You are entirely unsuitable! – If you really loved me you’d stay away from me! – Love asks nothing! – You don’t know the first thing about me! – I want nothing more to do with you! – You’re insane! – You’re too much for me! – Do what you like! – No one’s ever loved you like I love you! – I must have been out of my mind! – You’re completely deluded! – Be absolutely sure you know what you’re doing! – Leave me alone! – Straighten yourself out! – Don’t call me! – Your love makes me sick! – I can’t believe we’re going through all this again! – You are not at all what I thought you were! – You’re on another planet! – Every minute spent with you has been a complete waste of my time! – You don’t listen to a word I say! – I refuse to let you ruin my life! – Where has the wonderful person I fell in love with gone! – It would be my pleasure not to see you ever again! – This is hopeless! – Go to hell! On and on. I did not finish the stupid email. It was stupid. I no longer needed to say anything high-handed or deprecatory to Xavier. What for? It was all over now. Let him have the last word. Let him have the last word. ‘I pray you won’t regret this, love.’