One last thought

It was one of those gloomy evenings that haunt a person when they're at their most vulnerable. For some time now, nothing had been going right for Adrian, nothing was falling into place. The puzzle of his life was slowly unraveling, leaving behind only a blank page in the book of his fate.

Problems at work, where he hadn't expected them. Money was becoming increasingly scarce. He was barely making ends meet. This wasn't life anymore, just a mere existence on the edge of the world's garbage dump. Sure, he had plenty of friends who would probably help, but that wasn't what he wanted. He didn't even have his soulmate. That was what he missed most. He felt incredibly lonely and terrified of alienation. He was powerless against everything around him.

He was watching some hopeless political program on television when the doorbell attached to the door sang a cheerful melody that Adrian hadn't changed in six months. He stubbed out his cigarette in the overflowing ashtray and crossed the room toward the front door. He paused for a moment at the mirror. Despite being in his twenties, he still looked like a teenager. Slim and straight, of average height. His short, dark hair, usually parted on the left, now fanned out in all directions, creating a comical, artistic mess. He grew even more gloomy.

He grabbed the doorknob and quickly opened the door. His eyes widened in surprise. Anna stood there, a beautiful brunette with long hair, and a face that could best be described as "Elf Face." She was soaked from the downpour that beat merrily outside the window. Water dripped from her hair, creating a picture both beautiful and very shabby. Her white blouse was slightly see-through from the damp. Adrian didn't even know how she'd ended up there. He didn't remember giving her his address. The thought quickly vanished, however, as if it had suddenly ceased to be so important.

"I..." she mumbled uncertainly. "Just forget it."

She said it as if she were begging. As if it were the last thing she would ask for.

"Just forget about all of this for a moment."

Now Adrian was divided in two. The eternal conflict, his mind against its allies: his heart and soul.

His mind dictated that he not accept her. To say a few words to her to change her mind and come home. After all, he had his principles, and they were clear. Don't force yourself into places you shouldn't. Don't ruin someone's life because of yourself. That's why he built a defensive wall around himself. To isolate himself and avoid suffering, to avoid feeling guilty or defeated later.

His heart and soul, however, dictated something else. They told him to follow the impulse of the moment. They told him to go in the direction his feelings chose. Toward love, which he had so nearly achieved. He wanted to make her his queen and worship her to the skies. Surround her with his care and adore her eternally, so she would feel beautiful and valued.

"Just forget, just for a moment," she whispered.

Adrian stepped aside, making space while simultaneously making an inviting gesture. Feelings overcame cold logic and reason. Heart and soul triumphed over mind. An undefeated pair.

He went to her with a towel and gently placed it on her head, trying to brush her hair away. Anna just stood there and looked at his dark circles under his eyes. He looked so tired.

She slowly touched the top button of his black shirt and unbuttoned it. She moved lower and unbuttoned another, another, and another, until all the buttons were undone. The shirt fell open, revealing a bare torso marked with several scars. Adrian froze. He seemed utterly surprised. She possessed him. Now she was his Mistress. He couldn't resist her. His heart wanted this. It craved it with all its might. His mind was silent, muffled by the enormity of the emotions that shook him.

Gently and slowly, she tore off his shirt, which fell with the towel between their feet. He stood half-naked and speechless. He couldn't believe what was happening.

She stared into his eyes. They had always been expressionless. Mute and hidden. Now she could read them like an open book. Full of radiance and extraordinary depth.

She knew that, contrary to appearances, he felt the same way she did. They had both forgotten who they were in life. Now, nothing existed except this moment. There were no other people, no problems. The world suddenly emptied, leaving only the two of them.

She removed her blouse, revealing a slender torso and a dark bra. The blouse fell gently, covering the nightgown. A moment later, they were both completely naked, gazing into each other's eyes. Adrian wrapped his arms around Anna's waist and lifted her like a feather. He carried her to the bed and laid her there just as lightly. He was slim, but his arms, though fragile, concealed incredible reserves of strength.

He slowly began kissing her, massaging her ears with his hands and playing with her hair. Lightly caressing her, he moved lower to her neck, massaging her with his lips, gently exhaling air that pleasantly fanned her silky smooth skin.

He moved lower, massaging her small but beautiful breasts. He paused for a moment on her hardened nipples, lightly biting and sucking. His hands caressed her sides and ribs, letting his fingers wander freely over her body. He massaged and kissed the line of her stomach, stimulating the nerves around her navel. He didn't forget to caress her thighs and pubis.

When she moaned softly, he slowly placed his hands on her thighs and spread them. He entered her very slowly, sensing every detail of her body. Their bodies began to dance in unison. They became one. A dance so pure and beautiful that it became the highest expression of art and devotion.

They gazed at each other for a moment, then disappeared into each other's arms, hugging and kissing each other. Massaging and stroking each other's hands, backs, necks. They closed their eyes, surrendering to the single rhythm of love's rapture.

Their breathing became increasingly rapid and shallow. The sheets beneath them became damp with their sweat. Still holding each other, they leaned to their sides. Now Anna was on top of him. She smiled slightly. Her small, delicate hands roamed his chest, capturing every detail of his body: every curve of muscle, every mound. At the same time, she undulated against him, prolonging the dance.

She felt an increasing bliss and pleasure in this act. She was satisfied that she could give so much warmth and pleasure.

Adrian followed her lead and began to explore her body with his hands again. First her knees and thighs, gently stroking them. Then her belly and breasts.

He felt incredible. He tried to give everything he could. He wanted and longed to surrender himself completely to it. He no longer thought about what existed. Now he truly wanted to forget, and he did.

They made love for a long time. Anna rippled like a river, ready to extinguish any fire. Carrying water that would quench the greatest thirst. Adrian, on the other hand, was like a volcano, boiling from within. Gathering lava, only to burst forth in a tremendous eruption.

They were a perfect match. Stroking and kissing each other. They made love until everything disappeared, truly. Dance after dance. Continuously.

Late at night, Adrian sat by the bed, staring at the pale night lights lazily falling on Anna's face. She was asleep. What had she dreamed of? It didn't matter.

She was beautiful. Beautiful like an angel heralding good news. Only he, Adrian, was winged. He felt incredible. They had been cuddling earlier. They had talked for a while until Anna fell asleep. Adrian couldn't sleep. Something was stirring inside him. He felt that when the first rays of sunlight appeared on that beautiful face, everything would be over. The spell would be broken. He was afraid that when she opened her joyful eyes and her lips parted in a sincere smile, this moment of oblivion would vanish. He felt it was too good to be true. He dreaded every swiftly passing second, for their passage meant another transformation. There would be no more oblivion. Only a dry world remained, meaningless to him.

DRIN, DRRRIIINNN

The alarm clock. I have to turn it off. She'll wake up soon. Anna will wake up soon, and that damned alarm clock will ruin her peaceful and probably beautiful sleep.

No.

I'll wake up.

Adrian slowly rubbed his eyes. Bright sunlight poured through the windows, driving the darkness from every corner of the place.

"It was a dream," he thought. A beautiful dream.

He closed his eyes to hold on to it longer, but fragments of it were fading. They escaped his mind, leaving dead holes in his memory. Gaps that once meant something.

"What was I dreaming about?" he thought. He no longer remembered the details. He remembered that Anna had come to him, wet from rain. Rain?

Dreams had their own rules. However strange they might be, they were normal in dreams.

He only remembered that she was there. Nothing more. Everything had vanished. It seemed as if she were behind an impenetrable fog.

She had only come. Nothing more.

"A beautiful dream," he said to himself. "But is it worth living in dreams?"

He lit a cigarette and looked out at the world stretching out beyond the window. Dry logic, his mind reigned supreme, keeping his emotions and nerves on a short leash. He wouldn't let them escape.

“I'll think about it later.” He thought.