Chapter 1

"Can I come in?" asked Joseph from the Queen at the upstairs private quarters of the beach house.

"It's okay. I couldn't sleep anyway," she answered, trying to hide behind the door. While Joseph took a quick look around as a security checking he was on to catch her face. He perfectly knew that something was wrong with her and he didn't have to wait too long before he finally could see her teary eyes.

"You ok?" he asked softly and stopped her before she would turn around.

"Yes. Yes, of course."

"You do not seem okay to me."

"It's nothing really." her voice was a bit bashful. "I just had a bad day, that's all." Joseph just looked at her for a moment then decided it's better to leave it on her.

"I... I just wanted to go downstairs to have dinner. You should come with me, everybody is in the kitchen and these dinners are so much fun."

"No, thank you." she answered on the same voice then added, "I don't want to ruin the night."

"Don't say that. I'm sure they would be happy if you would join."

"I mean I'm not too happy and I don't want to kill the mood."

"But you have to eat dinner at least... right?"

"Well, I already ate..." she tried, but he finished her sentence.

"This morning, yes."

"I think you're right."

"I'm sure breakfast is not enough for a whole day, so if you don't want to come down, then I'll bring dinner up and eat with you... but just if it's okay."

"Um..." she hesitated for a moment, "Of course, feel free."

"Fine, then I'll be right back." winked Joseph and left her alone. As he closed the door behind him, he felt a bit better. Since he knew her - what was only a few months - she was always so sad and lonely. When she didn't have an official program she just spent her time in her room with sleeping, or just sat in her living room staring into space. She awfully could not find her place. Her husband was busy all the time, and he always left her alone for days. She was the loneliest woman Joseph has ever seen and he couldn't stop himself from helping. He perfectly knew he crosses that line, but he so desperately wanted to make her smile again.

"Here's the dinner..." he remarked with a smile, putting down the big tray onto an impromptu dining table, what Clarisse cleared from other things.

"It smells wonderful." she said, finally smiling a bit. "But a bit too much, don't you think?" He could see the uncertainty on her,

"You eat as much as you like, okay?" He remarked softly and saw her relaxing. She was like a poor wounded animal. "Come and sit down."

"Okay."

"And here's some drink..."

"Orange juice?" she was a bit surprised. "Maybe a little white wine or..."

"I'll bring you some wine if you want, but I've thought orange juice is a bit more... nutritious."

"Oh, I see." she nodded with a grateful smile. "Juice will be perfect, thank you."

"...So what have you planned for tonight?" he asked, taking a bite, but she just looked at him with glassy eyes.

"..."

"You know I have not much choice, so my plan was an eight hour long standing at your door, but I think you have a few options."

"Oh... I just wanted to go to bed early."

"When I came in you said you couldn't sleep... you meant?"

"Yes," she looked down.

"But it's only seven o'clock..."

"I know."

"Clarisse..." he sighed and waited until she looked up at him, "It's not okay, you know that?"

"Of course I know." she said and tried to not cry. "You really think I don't know?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to upset you I just... I just wanna help you."

"But you can't." she whispered, when he softly touched her arm.

"I can, believe me."

"...why are you so sure?"

"Because I want it... I truly want it like no-one else before."

"The truth is no-one ever tried," she remarked and there was silence for a while, before Joseph grabbed her hand,

"But I will."

"Why... why do you want it so much? Frankly..." she added the last bit and finally looked right into his eyes, but Joseph just smiled. "...That's your answer?"

"Is it enough?" he asked still smiling.

"Yeah, I think so..."

To be continued...