Chapter 1

Soliloquy with Gollum

Have you ever been punched in your chest so hard that the blow can actually remove the air inside your lungs and the pain is enough to bring tears to your eyes? Well, if you haven't experienced that feeling, you have no idea how Sheldon felt when he heard Amy saying: "I need some time to take a step back".

That kind of pain was familiar to him. Sheldon had long known that feeling. He had experienced a wide variety of injuries since his early childhood. Needless to say, Sheldon had lived with an abusive father, a semi-troglodyte brother and a vindictive twin sister, not to mention the myriad of bullies who thought Sheldon was a good substitute for a punching bag.

Sheldon knew by heart that physical pain could burn sting, pierce or suffocate but it would eventually go away.

The wounds would heal, perhaps leaving a scar, but Sheldon could always move on with his life, just like he's done before.

That's what Sheldon knew about physical pain, nevertheless the scorching sensation he felt inside his chest wasn't entirely physical. There was something in this feeling that Sheldon couldn't explain so easily.

"She said she needed time." Sheldon shook his head. "She needs time… time for what? Perhaps she needs time to reevaluate our situation. Maybe, a little time to realize that her behavior is completely irrational." Sheldon nervously stared at the Gollum figurine he had on his desk.

"Stop looking at me Gollum! You only have one job, and it's to keep that ring as safe as possible" Sheldon hissed angrily. "You must keep our precious in a safe place, until I need it." Sheldon sighed. "If I ever need it, of course. When Amy finally realize that our relationship is perfectly fine as it is, she'll come back to me."

Sheldon nodded to the plastic figure of Gollum. "What did you say?" He asked his unanimated interlocutor. "You're not so sure she'll come back!" Sheldon's face saddened deeply as he said those words. "Me neither" he added.

"After all, she's just said that being in a relationship with me is both physically and emotionally exhausting." Sheldon closed his laptop right when the screensaver showed the picture of a smiling Amy Farrah Fowler. "Okay, being in a relationship with her isn't all fun and games either."

"Sometimes she's really annoying." Sheldon kept talking to an extremely quiet Gollum. "For instance on our anniversary date, I can assure, she had washed her hair with that shampoo that smells like fresh picked strawberries just to make me mad, and it wasn't just the smell. She must have brushed her hair for at least hundred times so it looked so soft and shiny as it cascaded down her shoulders; she was practically forcing me to touch her hair." Sheldon inhaled deeply. "And also, her lips… She was wearing lip gloss. She knows I don't care about lip gloss, but she was wearing it anyways. It makes her lips look so slippery, plump and… tasty." Sheldon licked his bottom lip, recalling the delicious taste of Amy's lips. "No, being with her isn't easy."

"You're right Gollum! She's a shrewd vixen!" Sheldon acknowledged. "The only thing worse than being with Amy Farrah Fowler is being without her, and believe me, I've already tried both." He shook his head again.