Chapter 7: Niles


Morning arrived too soon. Niles awoke, and looked at the clock. It was just before 7:00am, and the day already felt like another hot one. Sunlight peeked into the room through a crack in the curtains. Niles knew that he should be up already, preparing for his day. He rolled over, and saw Daphne, still asleep next to him, her breath slow and rhythmic. He propped himself up, and took in the sight of her in his bed. She looked so content and relaxed as she slept.

I want to stay in this moment. I don't want this to end...

Niles loved Daphne, probably more now than ever before. The night before was a memory seared into his mind, one that Niles knew he would revisit and treasure forever. He reached out and ran his fingers through Daphne's hair, brushing it away from her eyes. Daphne stirred, and rolled over to face him.

She laid there in his bed, brunette hair tousled, porcelain skin slightly damp from the humidity. Tangled in sheets that clung to her body, hinting at the naked form that lay underneath, accentuating her curves. Daphne stared up at Niles with sleepy brown eyes as deep and rich as the finest Belgian chocolate and smiled warmly, as if happy to see Niles next to her.

It was the most beautiful sight Niles had ever seen in his life.

"Good morning... Niles." God, will hearing his name on her lips ever cease to thrill him?
"Good morning, Daphne."

They laid there for a moment longer, before Daphne broke the silence again.

"What time is it?"
"Almost 7:00."

She sighed.

"I suppose I should get up and see about heading back to your brother's."
"You're welcome to stay here as long as you need, Daphne." She shook her head sadly.
"No. As wonderful as last night was, we have to return to reality at some point."

Niles opened his mouth. He tried to think of a way to argue, to convince Daphne to remain here with him, forever, but left those thoughts unsaid.

"Would you like breakfast before you leave? There's a marvelous café around the corner that delivers."
"Thank you, Niles. That sounds lovely."

They got up shortly after, both grumbling about the heat of the morning. Niles slipped into his bathrobe from the night before, and called the café for a breakfast delivery. While he was doing this, Daphne slipped off to the other bathroom. As Niles passed down the hallway, he heard the shower running behind the closed door.

Niles made his way downstairs, and busied himself with setting the table for breakfast. He found himself feeling positively morose at the prospect of this wonderful dream ending. He supposed that he should consider himself lucky that he was even able to spend one night like that with Daphne.

It was so much better than I could have ever dreamed of.

The doorbell rang, signaling that their breakfast had arrived. Niles collected the order, and started to unpack the food at the table. As he was doing so Daphne joined him - freshly showered and, Niles noted with a touch of disappointment, fully dressed. They sat at the table together and commenced eating in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Daphne focused on picking at her pastry, avoiding eye contact for the moment. Niles sipped his coffee, wondering if he could somehow convince Daphne to spend the rest of the day with him, and avoid whatever rejection that was about to come.

Daphne finally broke the silence.

"Dr Crane, last night was... amazing. It's been a long since I've had such a good time. But I don't think we should repeat this again. I don't want to risk our friendship or my job." Daphne paused for a moment, as if considering her next words. "Or your marriage. You're still trying to reconcile with your wife. I think... we should leave what happened between us last night here. I would prefer that we didn't mention it to anyone either."

She was looking down at her pastry for the majority of her speech, but looked up as she finished, as if trying to gauge what Niles was thinking.

She's calling me Dr Crane again...

Niles desperately wanted to say no. To say that he wanted her, that he wanted this to continue. Tell her that he loved her – had been in love with her for the last four years. That his marriage was over, he would file for divorce immediately, if that meant he could just keep her here, with him, in this moment. He wondered if he would ever have the courage to say those words to her.

Niles swallowed and cleared his throat before replying, his eyes locked onto Daphne's as he spoke.

"Daphne, while I would love nothing more than to continue what we had, what you want is more important. If you want this to be the only time, for it to remain between us, I'll happily comply with your request."

No. That's a lie. I want this to continue. I want you, now and forever...

"My door is always open should you need a friend. Please know that this doesn't change the way I feel about you at all."

That however, was the truth. Niles knew that he wanted to remain in Daphne's life in whatever capacity she wanted him to, for as long as he could. Daphne looked relieved.

"Thank you, Dr Crane."
"Anytime, Daphne."

They finished eating, and Daphne gathered her things. They embraced briefly at the door for what Niles thought would be the last time. He felt like his heart was going to rip free from his chest and he would drown in his sorrow. After Daphne left, Niles stood in his living room in silence for what felt like an eternity. He shook himself out of it briefly and picked up his phone, calling his office to let his secretary know he wouldn't be in today, claiming to be feeling under the weather.

Niles then dragged himself slowly up the stairs for a long shower and a nap.