Remember that package Joseph was talking about? Well it turned out to be my reading machine (as I expected). I got up at 5am that morning and carefully walked to the downstairs hallway. I felt around the floor and came across the package. I then ripped it open and took the box into the lounge room. I placed it on the coffee table, opened the box and carefully lifted the machine out and plugged it into the wall. Next, I placed it on my lap and started pressing buttons. It made a beep noise and said, "No text to read."

I got up and ran upstairs to get the letter that Joseph left on the bed before he went away. Here's what it said:

"Dear Clarisse,

I'm sorry things didn't work out between us; I really thought we'd be together forever. Can you believe we split up after only thirteen weeks? That's pathetic! I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

I was so happy when you finally proposed to me. I'd been in love with you for years. Remember that night we spent together in that tiny little passageway? I wanted to kiss you so badly. I sat awake all night just staring at you, which was not a very smart thing to do since we were under attack and I should have been keeping alert, but I couldn't help myself, you were so beautiful and still are. It was at that point that I realised that what I felt for you wasn't just an attraction, it was love.

Anyway, I'm trailing off here so…I wish you all the happiness in the world and hope that someday we'll meet again and you'll smile at me and I'll smile at you. Just like old times.

Have a nice life, Clarisse, I'm sure you're going to be very lonely (as will I, because I'm already missing you).

All my love,

Joseph."

I don't know why he left that as a goodbye letter. If he didn't come back, I would have been bawling at his choice of words. If I were him and I was leaving me, I would write something like:

"Dear Clarisse,

It's a shame things didn't go according to plan. I had a feeling marrying you was a bad idea. Anyway, I've got to go now (things to do).

Seeya,

Joseph."

That way, if he didn't come back, it wouldn't be as sad because it would have sounded as if he really didn't care for me…wait a minute..?

This reading machine is a real blessing. I can now "read" magazines and books and newspapers and anything I want to read without having to disturb Joseph. I can tell my life is just going to get better and better from now on. Everything is perfect.

Remember those so-called "stages" that I was supposed to have gone through? Well I think I only went through four of them altogether. And they weren't even in the correct order. Perhaps I'm just different? Perhaps the fact that I almost lost Joseph again was a wake-up call that there are more important things in life than being able to see. I don't even care anymore that I'm permanently blind, because I have Joseph. We've resolved our differences and we've even started sleeping in the same bed again. I have a feeling that pretty soon we'll be doing more in there than just sleeping. Pretty soon indeed. I plan to just come right out and say, "Joseph, I think it's time we took the final step in our relationship."

Can you imagine the kind of look he'll have on his face when I tell him that? I can. It will probably be the same face he put on after I proposed to him. The "I thought you'd never ask" face. Haha!

Right now, I'm waiting for him to return from the shops with my face cream. I told him that I'd run out of face cream and asked him to go and fetch some more for me. He said that I'm beautiful enough without face cream, which was sweet, but I wanted him out of the house for a few minutes while I prepared. About ten minutes after he left I felt around in my drawers for my special 'Love Perfume' and sprayed it in the air and on myself. I sprayed it everywhere except for inside my mouth; I had something else for my breath. I must smell like the most desirable woman in the world. That is my intention, after all.

9:32pm: Waiting, waiting, waiting…

9:34pm: Still waiting…

9:37pm: STILL waiting…

9:40pm: STILL WAITING! HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRIVE DOWN TO THE SHOP TO GET FACE CREAM?

9:43pm: Finally! I can hear him downstairs. I'm turning some romantic music on, waiting for him to come upstairs…

9:47pm: Still waiting for him to come upstairs. What on earth is he doing down there?

9:49pm: Oh! I hear footsteps! And now the door is opening.

"I'm back, darling. Mmm…you smell nice."

"Thankyou. Did you get my cream?"

"No, they were all out, but I did get you this."

"What is it?"

"Massage oil."

"Well…that's a start."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing."

"What?"

"It's just…Joseph, I've been thinking of asking you this for a while and…I think it's time we took our relationship to the final level."

"…Well, I thought you'd never ask."

"Mmm…that look."

"What look?"

"That one on your face. The shocked, but pleased one."

"How do you know what kind of expression I'm wearing?"

"My instincts tell me so."

"Instincts? What else are your instincts telling you?"

"They're telling me to undress you slowly and take you to heaven."

"Well then, I'd say trust in your instincts."

"Joseph…"

"Clarisse…"

"Oops, I almost forgot I left this on. Shall we say it on three? One…two…"

"Goodbye, listening people!"


End! The end! One chaptered story down…two to go…

Hope you enjoyed this. Til next time…

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