his hand tightened on my hip , and i realized that i 'd been spacing out while he 'd been asking me a question . `` i think it 's a case of too much air between the ears , '' she muttered . `` it 's more the fact i do n't understand the rules of the game . '' and these things happen-these people leave us , or do n't love us , or do n't get us , or we do n't get them , and we lose and fail and hurt one another . 