Two Hours With a Recently Divorced Client

He arrived early - not because he was eager, but because he didn’t want to be late. There’s a difference.

His name was Arjun (nick name). Mid-30s, recently divorced, Indian. The kind of man who looked polished but carried the weight of a courtroom battle behind his eyes. He wasn’t looking for sex. He wasn’t even looking for me. He was looking for peace - even if it was rented.

Two hours. That’s what he booked. Not a night, not a dinner. Just... time. Time with someone who wouldn’t remind him of what had gone wrong.

I didn’t ask questions. I just listened. He told me about the silence in his apartment. How the light in the hallway felt unfamiliar now. How he still caught himself texting her out of habit - then deleting it before hitting send.

We talked over jasmine tea. No champagne, no candles. Just honesty. He wasn’t broken. He was bruised - and brave enough to admit it.

At one point, he looked at me and said, "I just needed someone who wouldn’t ask me to explain everything."

And I smiled. Because sometimes, that’s all I am - a moment where no explanation is needed. A space between pain and peace.

When the two hours ended, he didn’t linger. He simply said, “Thank you for not treating me like I was fragile.” And he left.

I didn’t follow up. I never do. But I like to believe he slept a little easier that night - not because of me, but because he allowed himself to breathe again.