The Image Of A Body
"James you've been quiet all night and you've had that can of beer for at least an hour." Jean said as she got fed up of silently watching tv, snuggled up into his side.
"I'm just tired Jean." He replied.
"Rubbish, I've used that excuse hundreds of times in my life time when in fact it hasn't been, and when I do use that excuse I at least try to look tired. So tell me the truth James, you always manage to find out when it's the other way round and fix things for me and I'm going to do the same."
"I'm fine, leave it honey. I'll try and perk up a bit."
"Perking up sounds good but I'm not leaving it. You were fine earlier at work and nothing's happened since so I'm guessing something at work got to you." Jean deducted logically.
"That's just it, police work is all about putting up a facade and then it's later when you think about it, it's upsetting. I don't enjoy watching innocent people crying or seeing people laying dead, most of whom have done nothing wrong."
"James it's all a part of policing, I know we have to be seen as strong to the public but if you think about it later it'll drive you crazy. You have to separate work from home and don't let them mix because that's when things get messy and that's where far too many police officers have broken. As for the dead bodies, that's what comes with working murder squad."
"What about you?"
"What about me?" Jean asked confused.
"We mix home life and work."
"Yeah but we don't, at work we're two colleagues who happen to be dating but don't act like it at work whereas at home we're a normal couple and work doesn't come into it. I can get the department counsellor to speak to you if you're having trouble with bodies and coping with seeing them but you have to learn to put the images aside in your head."
"I know it comes with the territory but I hope I never become used to it."
"And you won't, seeing dead bodies will never become part of normal life and I will be more worried when someone is no longer phased by seeing them but it takes practise to separate it all out in your head, you will get there though James, I promise."