He is very vague when it comes to Catherine.

When people ask how long he's known her, his reply would be "A while."

He doesn't want to let on that he knows how long it's been down to the day.

When people ask who she is, he tells them "A friend."

That answers both their question, and his own.

When, on rare occasion, he is with someone unaffiliated with his job and they ask what she is like, he says "Nice."

He is scared of getting caught up in describing both her inner and outer beauty.

When people ask if she is his girlfriend, he pauses before shaking his head and telling them that "No. She's just a colleague."

In actuality, he treasures these moments, glad that sometimes, at least, they give off the air of a couple.

And when he is with a man, it is nearly inevitable that they will ask the dreaded "Is she single?"

When they do, he sighs, almost wistfully, and says "Yeah. She is."

--

The End