Chapter 3

As Joseph kissed her the world suddenly slowed down. All she could do was to feel him. Feel his closeness, the warmth of his body, his loving arms around her and his soft lips against hers... what was like a drug. She was not able to pull away just kissed him back instinctively, because she wanted this for so long... she just wanted to feel him as long as she could, but soon her tears began to fall.

"Clarisse..." he broke the kiss as he felt her tears. "No, please..." he tried to whip down her tears, but she pulled away.

"Leave me alone."

"Clarisse..."

"Please, just leave me..." she whispered the last bit and turned away. Joseph just stood there for a few moments waiting for her to change her mind, but when he understood she won't, he hesitantly left her alone...

As the door closed, her tears finally started to run freely... she didn't hold herself back anymore. She felt the salty liquid in her mouth, her vision was blurry, while she cried her heart out. She's never felt so miserable in her life. She had to realize from her reaction that she wanted him more than she's ever thought. And now she had failed... she remembered that maid in that old story, who said she didn't like cakes when they offered her a slice, because she knew if she would try it, she would want to eat nothing else, while she wouldn't have the chance to do it again... but Clarisse already tasted it, and she perfectly knew that she will want him more than ever before...

As she calmed down a bit, she went to the bathroom, took off her clothes and stood under the shower, wanted to wash down her tears, her feelings and this whole day from her life... Her hair was still wet when she climbed into bed and huddled herself up, embossing a pillow and finally fell asleep... then she started dreaming.

In her dream she was with Joseph in a little house somewhere by the sea. She was making some tea in the kitchen, when she felt his arms around her, as Joseph softly drew her to his embrace, kissing her cheek lovingly. She didn't turn around just smiled, felt that overwhelming happiness, because she knew they were in their own home, sharing just an average day in their new life.

When she woke up, the first thing she realized that she was smiling. Smiling from her dream what seemed so real last night. Her bedroom was different now than when she fell asleep. Last night everything was depressing and empty, but now the whole room was so peaceful and bright. She somehow felt that her dream was a picture from her future, what was so relaxing and healing for her soul.

As she went out for a walk she was calm and balanced again.

"You okay?" asked Joseph as he finally found her in a hidden corner of the garden. "I've been so worried about you."

"Yes, much better now, thank you."

"You know, I didn't want to hurt you yesterday..." He stepped closer, leaning against the stone fence next to her. "Maybe I was too pushing..."

"No, you did nothing wrong Joseph."

"So that means..."

"That means I had a dream last night," she smiled, looking at him.

"About us?"

"Let's just say, I will tell you when it already came true..."

To be continued...