Chapter 59
Daniel
As Daniel shut the door of his room behind him, he immediately regretted leaving Ore. He paced the room, trying to make sense of the loneliness he felt. His own company had always been a comfort but now there was a distinct lack of something. He changed into his pyjamas, brushed his teeth and got into bed.
Every time he closed his eyes, she was with him again, the softness of her skin against his and the whisper of her voice in his ear. He tossed and turned, but sleep eluded him. He checked his alarm clock; it read 2 a.m.
He sat up, willing his brain to compartmentalise, a task it was usually so good at. He needed to be up in four hours. He needed to rest, but the whole of his mind was consumed with only one thing. Before he could talk himself out of it, he got out of bed. As he had two nights previously he walked down the corridor on autopilot until he got to her door.
He knocked lightly, half hoping she wouldn’t hear, half praying that she would. Or maybe his dream would recreate itself and she’d slam it in his face. But then she was there, standing before him in a white dressing gown, her hair wrapped in a scarf, bleary-eyed.
‘Did I wake you?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ she replied with a sleepy smile, ‘come in.’ He crossed the threshold, shutting the door quietly behind him and watched, mesmerised, as she dropped the robe to the floor and climbed back into bed. Her naked body an invitation, dark amongst the bright white sheets.
Her gaze was transfixed on his face as he removed his pyjamas and when he lay down beside her she pulled him into an embrace. Their noses lay tip to tip, and he encircled her with his arms. She closed her eyes and sighed. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything more beautiful. Slowly his own eyelids drifted shut, the steady sound of her breathing coaching him to join her in a calm and deep sleep. He felt utterly at peace.
