Chapter 9

he cool night air enveloped her as she stepped into the cool summer night. The stars were twinkling brightly in the cloudless sky providing the perfect backdrop of velvet for a brightly shining moon. She glanced up at the moon remembering as a child how she always thought the moon was following her. The songs of love sick crickets trying to attract a mate made her heart race within her chest.

She had been preparing all day for this. She went through outfit after outfit, trying on one dress after another. She finally decided on a blue-green dress which accentuated her blue eyes and auburn hair. To further the ensemble, she trimmed the white rose that he left her, and placed it in her hair wedged behind her left ear. The smell of it drifted across her nose and further heightened her excitement.

As she walked for what seemed to be an eternity, she thought of him. How he looked, how he felt, how he smelled, how he tasted. Her cheeks flushed merely on instinct as she pondered that last thought and she caught herself twisting the ring that he gave her she wore on her finger unconsciencely. It excited her to no end to know that he still affected her, even when he was not around.

Off in the distance she could see the foot bridge. She paused for a moment as her brain kicked in the reality of the situation. "I must be completely daft," she told herself, "I don't know anything about this man, who he is, where he is from... nothing!" This was her last chance to turn back.

She turned away from the bridge, knowing with every fiber in her being that she should return to the comfort of her home and her life, but as she closed her eyes, she saw his face and immediately remembered his touch upon her skin and a slight shiver ran up her spine. The choice had been made.

Guided by her heart, she found herself turning back towards the bridge, despite what her head was telling her. Her footsteps floated on air. Her skin was electrified by the mere thought of him touching her once more.

Before she knew it, she had reached the bridge. She looked around and he was no where to be found. Panic set in. "I hope I'm not too late," she kavetched, "oh please let me not to have missed him!"

As she walked to the middle of the bridge her eyes lifted to the sky and looked for the brightest star she could find. The moonlight in her eyes made it difficult for her to pick out the tiny pin points of light piercing the darkness. She leaned up against the railing and looked down over the edge. She saw the reflection of the moon glimmering of the surface. She gazed down further and saw her own reflection.

The moonlight brought out such wonderful highlights in her hair. The rose was still tucked firmly behind her ear. She looked into the eyes of the image before her just as a dragonfly buzzed across her field of view. She looked around once more, hoping to see him approach. Still nothing.

"I missed him, I just know it!" she began to worry to herself. She gazed back down in the water. It rippled slightly as a small insect skimmed across it's surface. She looked at her reflection once more, trying to see again what any man could want with her. That was the last thought the crossed her mind as she felt a thick bag being placed upon her head and then a thump. Darkness crept into her mind like a sudden slumber.