It was half past two in the morning. Therese had been trying to sleep since eleven, but an unusual feeling inside her chest kept her awake - a mix of nervousness and happiness. Her mind flitted between fragments of the evening—Richard leaving, his laugh, the crooked tile on the pavement—and most of all, the woman. Her smile, her eyes, those elegant yet strong hands, and the warmth of her voice lingered vividly. And the question: what did it all mean? Why was she thinking of her? Why was she smiling in her bed that suddenly felt too small to contain the feeling? And what about Richard? How did meeting this woman connect to him? Therese didn't have any answers.
A slight winter breeze seeped through the partially open window, tickling her legs, chest, and arms. This time, unlike so many nights before, she noticed the chill not because the curtains moved but because she felt it on her skin. Suddenly, she heard the door open. It was Richard. She recognized the sound of his shoes on the wooden floors, the jingle of his keys. There he was, standing in the doorway, looking at her. The room filled with the scent of alcohol mixed with his sweat. As Richard moved closer, the smell grew stronger.
Richard was drunk. He collapsed onto the bed and hugged her. Therese lay still, unable to move or even breathe. Everything seemed frozen except for the curtain's gentle sway, as his hands started sliding down her body before stopping abruptly. A moment later, she heard snoring in her ear. Strangely, it was a relief. She finally drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Therese woke to the cawing of crows outside her bedroom window. One bird was pecking at the glass, likely trying to catch a bug stuck to it. The sharp sound blended with the noise of Richard's footsteps as he moved around the room, packing.
Barely awake, Therese asked, "Hey, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like? I'm packing," he replied proudly.
"Packing for what?" she asked, stretching her arms.
"For my trip, Terry. Turns out they weren't just looking for a teacher at that school—they were giving boat tickets to the best candidates. Phil and I won." His tone brimmed with even more pride.
Truth be told, Therese hadn't expected Richard to win. Yet, she found herself genuinely happy for him. "Congrats! I'm really happy for you! How long will you be gone?" she asked warmly.
Richard seemed taken aback by her tone, surprised by the warmth of it. "Three weeks. After that, it might be possible for you to come to Europe immediately" he said, now focusing entirely on her.
"Yes, well, sure, that's possible," she said with a forced smile. "But let's not think about that now. Enjoy your success." She hugged him. Strangely, his impending departure made it easier for her to feel affection toward him.