A moment in the shower

"Are you trying to steam yourself? You're not a lobster you know." You hear Natali's voice as she enters the bathroom. "My mother called this morning, from Russia. Five in the morning of course, I keep telling her to call later. It was so nice, I haven't talked to her since..."

She stops as she notices something wasn't right with you. Reaching in she turns off the shower. She steps in and takes your head in her hands, forcing you to look at her. You shift your eyes to avoid direct eye contact.

"What's wrong?" She asks, concern across her face. "What's the matter?"

In a low quiet voice you respond. "I've...done something..."

She is quiet as her eyes search your face, her hands just under your cheeks. You are absolutely sure everything was about to tumble down around you, that your one real shot with the woman of your dreams was gone forever. Your heart shattered to a million pieces with no way to put it back together. You are brought low when you think of the disappoint she will have in you.

After what seems like an eternity she leans in and kisses you. She calls you by your real name and kisses you again.

"Baby...we've all done something. Every last one of us. This life will ruin anyone. It sticks to you and stains you." She embraces you, bringing your head to her shoulder. You hold her around the waist, your wet naked body pressed against her dry clothes. "Just a bit longer now and we start again. We can all start again. A brand new life."

You clear your throat, then swallow the emotions that threatened to overwhelm you. "I don't deserve you Natali."

"You don't know how wrong you are. It wasn't fair of me to put you in this position. I just never planned on...us." She soothes as she strokes your wet neck and back. Pulling back from you she kisses you once more. "Come to the study when you are ready, I've got something to show you."

As she backs away from you she says. "We make this work, remember? We make this work."

You nod and watch your angel glide from the room.