He never planned on college. It was all he could do to finish high school. He wasn't smart. He was shy and awkward. Couldn't be a salesman - he hated selling stuff.
But he was nice looking and he worked out at the gym every day and he had the best set of abs you could hope to see. He had a portfolio made and he went the rounds of the agencies. Because he had other attributes which he never suspected could earn him a living, he got himself a name in the porn video trade, and almost made enough money to quit his waiter job.
He never had a woman friend. It wasn't that he didn't want one. It was just that he never met a woman who gave him the respect he knew he deserved, and he wouldn't settle for less. He had a small apartment that overlooked the parking lot of a supermarket. He kept it neat. The dining table was always set tastefully for two, though he mostly ate cold pizza on the couch in front of the TV. Sometimes he would sit at the dining table and imagine a dining partner. A woman. Funny. Sweet. Sexy. Smart. Kind. Pretty. Slender. Strong. She took over his thoughts. He knew all the clothes she wore. Knew when she had her period. Long conversations. Much love making.
Some days he didn't go to work - just stayed home with Tasha. She was so real to him. He put food on her plate and he swore she ate it. He tried to get her to leave the apartment with him. At least go in the car, but she would not.
``Where's your body?'' he asked her once.
``In your head,'' she answered ``The only place it will ever be.''
The years passed.
``I need a real person.'' he said.
``You'll never find one.'' she answered.
Next day she was gone.
Not long after that a woman on the camera crew said ``marry me you hunk,'' and he did.