5 comments/ 10392 views/ 19 favorites The Rise after the Fall By: CrimsonGold Author's Note: Hello dear reader, I'd just like to let you know that this is a long piece which charts the beginnings of a gradual and somewhat tentative romance between two women of very different backgrounds and contrasting personalities, which has its ups and downs. This isn't a quick fix since there is a long build up to the sex. Perhaps I will write a less plot driven story some day... However, for now, please bear with me, your patience is appreciated and I hope you will find it's worth it. One more thing, if you're not of legal age or shouldn't be reading such a story, you know what to do... Otherwise, please enjoy this piece and take the trouble to vote and comment, as your feedback is very welcome. ~***~ It was just after ten o'clock as I left my sister Kim's house to drive home for the night. I'd had a busy workweek at the marketing agency where I worked full time as a graphic designer, and I was looking forward to getting a good night's sleep. Still, I hadn't seen Kim for a couple of weeks since I'd been busy with events on weekends and it was good to catch up with her. Kim, her husband Michael and I talked, laughed and reminisced over dinner and time flew by until I realized it was time for me to get going. Kim's house faded into the distance as I swept a few strands my short dark hair away from my eyes before shifting gears. It was only fifteen minutes back to my place in the bustling city at this time of night and I had no need to rush, so I drove unhurriedly along the street. I'd travelled just over fifty metres along Kim's street when the glimmer of another car's lights appeared ahead of me in the distance. I think it was the speed of the approaching vehicle that caught my attention as I realised the lights were moving far too quickly along the street and towards me for some reason. I checked my speed, stomping the brake ruthlessly, my car's tires screaming in disapproval, but I barely had time to brace myself as the lights filled my vision and I saw nothing but blackness. My eyes ached. As I fought to open them, bright light flooded my sight and I felt as if I would never see again, the searing pain from such brightness was intense, I felt blinded. My eyes watered uncomfortably as I looked up at an unfamiliar white ceiling which I thought was pretty weird. I couldn't remember going to bed and this certainly wasn't the same ceiling as my apartment. I tried to turn my head and a sharp pain shot up my neck, a startling pain that churned my stomach. I yelped and reached up to clutch my head, my fingers threading through my short, messy hair as my eyes throbbed. What was going on? I could hear footsteps, then the sound of a door opening as I tried to gain my bearings. Somehow I managed to turn my head gently to see who was there. A woman in a clinical looking pale uniform approached me from a door on the other side of the room. "Oh, you're awake. How do you feel?" She asked, although her face was rather blurry I could make out that she had pudgy, soft features and kind eyes. I felt a tiny bit more comfortable, she looked friendly and that helped me feel a little less afraid. "I, I don't know, where am I?" I asked, wondering how I got here in this unfamiliar place. "You're here at Mercy Presence Hospital in Aurora. You were in a car accident but you're going to be okay." "Okay? What do you mean okay? What happened?" I looked down at myself and saw the drip in my wrist, then noticed the blurry drip stand beside my bed. "The car crash left you with a few minor injuries, but nothing life threatening. You're a fighter, and a lucky one too-these injuries won't cause you too much trouble once they heal. The doctor will fill you in on the details, I'll see if they're able to come and see you now, okay?" "Wait, how long have I been here for?" I blurted out, as the nurse turned to walk away. She turned back, smiling empathetically, hearing the panic in my voice. "This is your third day here, it's Monday now. We placed you in an induced coma so your body could repair itself a little easier. I'll be back in a moment, just rest here until I return, alright miss?" She disappeared through the door, smiling kindly over her shoulder. I relaxed in the bed, giving up with questions for a moment, since my head continued to throb monotonously as I slumped back into my pillows. The slim windows high above the wall beside my bed closed out the clear sky and I really craved some fresh air, anything aside from the smell of detergent and hand wash. Still, I could barely move my limbs, let alone get out of bed to open the window. I tried to think back to what I could remember about the accident. Aside from the headlights of the other car, I realized I couldn't remember much else about what had happened. As far as I could tell I hadn't been in the wrong, when it came to staying on my side of the road at least. The last thing I wanted was to have caused an accident and I found myself wondering how the other driver had fared-had they been injured as well? My thoughts were interrupted by the door clicking open as a woman stepped into the room, followed by the same nurse from several minutes earlier. This new woman, who I assumed was the doctor, looked every part a medical professional in her white coat, her splendid, dark hair tied back impeccably, a light sprinkling of makeup highlighting her already fine features. She looked as if she were in her early thirties at the oldest. She carried herself with an air of influence but she had a graceful poise as she approached my bed, clipboard in hand. "Good morning Sarah, how are you? I'm Doctor Wilson, by the way." "Er, good morning," I said, realizing I barely even knew how to decipher what time of day it was, let alone describe how I felt, "Well, I guess I'm kinda in a bit of pain right now..." "Yes, I'm not surprised, it was a pretty severe accident. I'll administer you some light sedatives to take the edge off, alright. Do you have any allergies?" "No, no I don't," I replied, shifting to face her as she moved closer to me, marking something on her clipboard. While her eyes were averted I seized the chance to secretly admire her beauty, I'd allow myself to feel guilty about it later on if I had time. She truly was beautiful, I thought. "Okay, good. So, where exactly is the pain and discomfort?" Wilson asked kindly, her eyes flashing back up to mine. "My neck, my head and, ow, my legs," I winced as I tried to move my limbs. "Okay, I'll take a look at you. So there's no pain around your ribs or at your chest area, that you've noticed?" "No, why is that?" I asked, concern rising to the forefront my mind. "We just need to make sure you don't have any cracked or broken ribs or traces of severe chest trauma," she reassured me. "I'll just take a look at your legs, if you don't mind?" "Yeah, um, go ahead," I consented, bracing myself to see what my legs looked like. "So, just as a warning, there are is a rather severe laceration on your left leg especially, while your right is a little better. It's nothing that won't heal with time of course and scarring isn't very likely since we patched you up quickly. It's all bandaged but I'll check the general area." She looked down at me, gauging my reaction. "What other injuries do I have?" I asked, frowning with worry. "Let's see," she looked down at the paperwork in her hand, "Concussion, a cut on your scalp which is hidden in your hairline and not visible, which will heal just fine by the way. Also some scratches from windscreen shards and other shrapnel. Your neck is probably a bit strained from the stress from the impact, nothing rest and perhaps a visit to a physiotherapist won't be able to help," she explained as she bent slightly and lifted the quilt and sheet away from my legs. I looked down to see a long adhesive bandage along my left leg, beginning from the base of my knee which ended halfway down my shin. There were a few smaller dressings in scattered patches along both my legs and she was right, my right leg wasn't as severely damaged as my left. She scanned my battered legs and she nodded, looking back up at me. "They're healing well, soon the bruising will fade and your left leg will be much better within the month, maybe even sooner if you're lucky and take care of yourself." "Alright. I'll be able to walk right?" I asked hopefully. "Yes, just take it easy when you get on your feet." She began to cover my legs with the bedding and the nurse hurried to tuck in the sheets for her, assisting where she could. "Thank you," Doctor Wilson remarked appreciatively as she returned to my side and jotted down more notes before fixing her eyes on me. "I'll just check your head to make sure everything's fine, if that's alright Sarah?" "Yeah, sure. Go ahead," I vaguely hoped I didn't sound too eager. I found I couldn't look away from her face as she pulled out a disposable glove from a small packet in her coat, slid the packet back and leaned in towards me, her fingers turning my chin up to face her just enough to be directive. I felt my muscles tense up uncontrollably as I tried not to shake with the electricity that seemed to flow from her hand. I was completely caught off guard by the strange sensation that sparked through me as her hand fluttered across my forehead, cheek and jaw. However, there was another strong and intoxicating effect which revealed itself in the fragrance of her perfume. I held my breath, then decided it would be more subtle if I simply took shallower breaths, which spared me the full force of her intoxicating aroma which had me swooning. Her eyes searched my features for any signs of pain as she checked various pressure points in my face. I hoped she hadn't noticed anything about my reactions, such as my unusually rapid pulse which I swore must have been visible from my exposed neckline. And then she took my pulse, her fingers tight against my wrist, even as I felt my heart rate accelerate even faster, blood rushing through my ears like a torrent. Shit, surely she would notice? Her eyes flicked up to mine and I thought I saw them widen slightly, before she let go of my wrist and took a final note on her clipboard. "Well, your pulse is elevated, but with everything that's going through your mind right now, it's no cause to be too concerned about," her lips lifted in a tiny smile. "Listen, doctor, I need to know something," I said abruptly, pushing myself up on my pillows restlessly. "Yes, what is it?" she asked, surprised at my suddenness. "What happened to the other driver, the one in this accident, I mean. Where are they?" Doctor Wilson inclined her head rigidly and sighed. "I'm afraid that they've... Passed away. I was informed that their vehicle collided with yours before apparently hit a tree at the side of the road. They didn't make it through the impact, so I'm told." "Oh," was all I could manage as I looked down at the drip needle in my wrist glumly, fidgeting with the sheets wrapped around me. "Listen, Sarah, for what it's worth, and just so you know, it's a miracle you didn't pass away. I heard the wreckage was pretty... Severe, as you can imagine," she frowned gravely before shuffling through the papers on her clipboard. "So at this point, I can say that you're free to go in the next couple of hours although I suggest you take at least a week off from work. I'll get the nurse to administer some pain relievers and instructions for looking after the bandages and you can be on your way. We'll get the necessary paperwork ready for you before you leave. It's been a pleasure to help you, Sarah," she said, smiling. "Oh, okay, thank you doctor," I croaked, feeling a little more drained after hearing the news of the other driver's fate. Doctor Wilson just sighed empathetically, not quite so sure what to say. "You're most welcome. Take care, okay," she stepped back from me, pulling off her glove and dropping it into the bin near the door. "I'll try. See you doc." "Bye," she smiled and turned to leave the room, the nurse staying behind with me. "She's a wonderful doctor, one of our best," the nurse smiled kindly. "Yes, she seems very down to earth," I sighed, already missing Doctor Wilson's eyes and voice. "She is, that's for sure. Now, I'll bring you your painkillers, alright Sarah. I'll be back in a moment." The nurse departed, leaving me to my own thoughts for a little while. I left the hospital two hours later, after calling Kim and arranging for her to drive me back to my house, seeing as my car had been "broken into a million shards" according to her during the phone call. She and Michael had hurried to the scene as soon as she heard the "enormous bang", knowing that something had happened in their street. They'd witnessed firsthand the devastation which had occurred and although they couldn't get me out of my Camry which I was trapped in, they'd stayed by my side. Michael and their other neighbours had checked the other driver's condition and couldn't save him, so they focused much of their attention on me until the emergency services and police had arrived. Kim had almost burst into tears as she and Michael had arrived at the hospital to collect me, Michael trying to hold himself together for all of us. I couldn't imagine what they'd seen. "Oh my god, I'm so glad you're okay," Kim choked as she marched into the hospital, giving me a long but gentle hug, mindful of my tender head and my obvious limp. "I'm so glad to see you both again," I admitted, patting Michael on the shoulder before accepting his gentle hug, a noticeable contrast to his usual rough and hearty ones. "Let's get out of here, huh?" Michael swallowed and together we turned to walk out from the hospital, finally beginning the sluggish process of moving on. That first night once I'd left the hospital, as Kim, Michael and I had dinner together back at my house, a news story caught our attention. An inquest into the 'shocking' car accident on Friday night at Hill Street in Aurora had disclosed some revealing information. The male driver who had been killed had been drinking that night, had been found to have a skyrocketed blood alcohol reading which was far from within the legal range of allowance. The newsreader continued by explaining that the driver and sole occupant of the other vehicle, who had somehow survived with relatively minor injuries, had been discharged from hospital earlier in the day. They also announced that I wouldn't be facing any charges, which I had been concerned about until I spoke with the local law enforcement. Fortunately though, the officer assured me that I wouldn't be held responsible for the accident and my record was clear. Climbing into bed that night after a well needed shower, shortly after Kim and Michael had left, was a relief. I was exhausted and craved some sleep, plus I still ached somewhat, despite the painkillers which I had been taking as arranged by Doctor Wilson. I thought of the past three days and how they'd proved to be life changing for both Kim, Michael and myself. However, I couldn't ever disregard the painful grief of the mournful family and friends of the driver who had been unlucky. It was a awful event for all those involved. I was truly glad to be out of hospital, the fresh air of the outside world and the familiarity of my own home was something I really appreciated. I realized I'd really taken for granted the freedom and comfort of my own home, which my stay in the hospital hadn't provided so well. In fact, I knew more than anything else that I'd been taking my own life for granted up to that point. I guess the whole thing had been a reality check and despite the darkness of the situation, I knew it was something that had changed my mindset forever. I would make the most of my life from now on. On the Friday night of the fourth week after the accident, I decided to distract myself from the thoughts circulating through my mind regarding the fact that it had been exactly a month since the accident. I'd been working for the past three weeks after I was granted a week off to recover from the worst of my injuries. I was somewhat tired after another week of work, just like always, but at least the pain had faded, as had the majority of my wounds and my limp. I thought I'd visit the local art gallery, hoping to find some kind of solace on a Friday night. Some colleagues had mentioned that there was an exhibition opening night occurring at this gallery, so I figured, why not? Maybe I'd even find some inspiration for some projects at work, I thought to myself as I caught a cab to the gallery. I had bought another car, but I hadn't been driving much since I wanted to ease back into it. People advised me that would be best, including my newly acquainted therapist. I checked my watch as I arrived at the gallery, just before nine o'clock, perfect timing I thought, as I paid for the trip. Farewelling the friendly cab driver, I stepped onto the kerb and crossed the footpath and up the stone steps to the entryway of the gallery. A crowd of lively people were filtering through the large foyer doors while a few others were still incoming, so I had arrived at an ideal time. I felt confident following the formal dress code in the slim pants and white cotton shirt I wore. Seeing as it was a warm evening in the vanishing days of spring I wore a fitted, black blazer made with a light fabric blend. I paid for entry at the foyer counter and allowed myself to be swept along with the crowd as we streamed through the foyer into the gallery space. I happened to stumble into several work colleagues, one of whom was Nick, the office gossiper who loved knowing about anyone and everything. I joined a little group with him and some other colleagues, as well as their spouses and their friends, just so I wouldn't feel completely isolated for the night. Sure, Nick could be a pain, but for tonight at least, he was as harmless as his keen nature and enthusiastic humour would allow him to be. We chatted amongst the group while we waited for the opening speech by the featured artist and the gallery director. After the speeches, which were a brief five minutes, the large group disbanded as we set out to meander through the multifaceted walls and areas of the gallery to examine the artist's work of realism paintings and photography prints. I found myself wandering off from Nick and my other colleagues to soak up the sights on my own. I prefer enjoying works of art with my own company while I objectively analyse and absorb them. After about half an hour of wandering around from one work to the next, I turned away from the work I was viewing to continue onwards in the room, when I was suddenly distracted from my thoughts. A familiar face caught my attention, a woman with dark hair and an unforgettable grace stood on the outskirts of the room, a glass of champagne in hand as she surveyed a painting before her. I didn't know whether to approach her or not, after all it had been a while and I doubted she would even remember me. I scanned her surrounding area and saw that no one seemed to be with her, people circulated around her like schools of fish while she remained motionless amongst them like a statue. Perhaps this presented a good chance, even though the butterflies in my stomach were screaming at me otherwise. I remembered my goal in life to take opportunities when I could, and decided to act. Throwing caution to the winds, I realized my legs were carrying me through the crowd as I kept her in my sights. She looked like an apparition, a memory that I'd thought of over the past few weeks solidifying before me. Although I didn't enjoy squeezing through the crowd, it gave me a little time to realize I had no idea what to say or do. But I couldn't help myself and she did seem kind of solitary, at the very least I could just greet her and allow her space if she didn't want company. The Rise after the Fall I stepped around the last couple of people around her and stood beside her carefully, hoping I didn't seem so abrupt. I looked up to take a look at the large painting she was observing, not wanting to be too in her face or too shy and she turned her head to look at me briefly, accepting my presence. "It's a nice piece," I said, continuing to gaze up at the portrait of a woman whose face was emerging from a body of water, her features just beginning to break the surface. "Yes," replied the woman beside me, turning to look at me again, her eyes not returning to the portrait this time as her vibrant green eyes inspected me. "Oh... Do I know you? Forgive me, I see a lot of faces, but you somehow seem familiar." "Oh, I'm Sarah, Sarah Callis. I was in the hospital a month ago exactly today, actually. I just remembered you from there, since you were the doctor who treated me. I thought I'd just say hello," I grinned as her face began to light up with recognition. "Wait, was it an accident? A car accident wasn't it?" she asked, clearing her thoughts as she recalled me. I nodded in agreement while she put the pieces together, sounding more certain with every word. "Oh, I think remember you, wasn't the accident in Hill Street? I have friends who live there that were on the scene instantly. I heard later on that it wasn't at all your fault which is a good thing I suppose. It was still a terrible thing to happen though. How are you anyway, Sarah?" she beamed and I found it twice as difficult to form a sentence while I was internally stunned. "I'm well thanks, much better when it comes to the injuries, most of which are almost entirely healed, thanks to your help. How are you?" I replied, realizing that she was wearing more makeup than she had at the hospital. Her lips were a deep crimson, her cheekbones enhanced with a richer blush, a look I could never pull off. I noticed her eyelids had been evenly traced with a dark eye shadow giving her a more mysterious air. She was even more striking than I remembered, her slim black dress a little more flattering of her figure. "I'm glad you're well, and it was a pleasure to help you with your injuries, although I guess I was just doing my job," she laughed, "I'm great by the way, just enjoying a little time off while I have tonight and tomorrow free from work," She smiled as she took a sip from her glass. "Ah, yes, I don't envision that you have much free time in your field. Did you come here with a friend or...?" I wasn't sure if she'd come with someone else who happened to wander away momentarily. "Oh, no. Tonight I thought it would be better to just enjoy a simple night out without friends coming along. Plus I know this artist's works well; I have several of his original pieces at home, I couldn't miss this opportunity to see some of his newer works." "Really? You're very lucky, his pieces are in high demand these days, he's very popular. I was curious if you were content on your own, I won't keep you if you'd like some space," now that I knew she had come here alone I was getting ready to retreat if she didn't want company. "Oh, that's a matter of context," she laughed, inclining her head towards me. "What do you mean?" I said, not following her direction. "Well, I guess what I mean is that despite my busy professional life and my ongoing social life, part of me thought I might find someone new, someone interesting. I guess that's why I'm here tonight, I'm not completely content with the more romantic side of things, or my current lack of them," she laughed lightly and an empathy for her settled within me. I wondered how long she had been without someone in her life and I suspected that despite all the things in life keeping her busy, she was perhaps a little lonely. "I see, I'm surprised you're not spoken for though. Although then again, with such a busy profession it's not a complete mystery, Doctor." "Oh, call me Laura please, I should have told you earlier," her hand flourished apologetically, "And yes, my work is what I focus on the most. What about you though Sarah, are you here with someone special tonight?" "I'm here on my own, I'm single anyway, but I happened to meet up with some colleagues earlier so I did have company," well at least I'd put it out in the open that I was single. "Now it's my turn to be surprised, I would've thought you'd be with someone for sure," she seemed taken aback that I wasn't in a relationship and I wasn't sure whether to be embarrassed or intrigued. We talked about our careers and what we had planned for the next week. I explained that I had some design projects from work to continue at home throughout the weekend, but was going to a friend's birthday celebration the very next day. She seemed interested in what I had to say as we talked about our families and backgrounds. She was part of a family of white collar professionals from Chicago, progressive traditionalists nonetheless, they had adopted and grown with modern ideals. The middle child between an older brother who was a lawyer and younger sister who taught in a Chicago high school, Laura had always sought to prove herself amongst her successful family-and she had succeeded. She'd been living in Aurora for around three years and I felt disappointed that I'd never even seen her before in all that time, although her busy schedule answered for her lack of time out in public for leisure. "How would you feel about spending a little longer out tonight, with me?" she asked at some point during our conversation. "Well, I don't mind. We're already here so why not?" What was I doing? Oh god, it was so unexpected to see Laura here, let alone being asked to spend time with her. "Okay, good. I don't know about you, but I've had a look at virtually all of these works, what about if we were to go elsewhere?" "Sure. I've spent enough time looking around, where would you like to go?" I tried to think of a reasonable bar to go to, since I hadn't been familiar with the bar scene for few years. "Back to mine, if that's alright?" I had barely heard her last three words as the first three sunk into my mind. Why would she want me to go back to her place, surely there were other places to chat? She barely even knew me, and I was surprised she'd be that open with someone who was virtually a stranger. My mind conjured up other scenarios which I shoved out of my thoughts, trying to focus on her in the present moment. "Er, I guess so," I replied, "Unless you'd like to go somewhere else, like a bar or something?" my doubts were unable to escape her notice. "Oh, I'd probably prefer something quieter after a busy day I wouldn't mind relaxed company, more specifically, your company. It would just be for a drink, and it would be a good chance for you to see my private collection of works? I won't keep you for long and you can return home afterwards, what do you think?" she persuaded, resting her hand against my arm in the hope that I would agree. "Well, as long as you're happy with that, then why not? Besides, can't really say no to seeing your collection of art," I agreed, feeling my face turn slightly numb as Laura's features softened into a appreciative smile, before she finished the remainder of her drink. As we made our way through the crowded exhibition space I hoped Nick didn't see that I was leaving with Laura- I didn't want him stirring me up. Unfortunately, he appeared out of a group of people, his eyes widening curiously as he noticed the stunning woman I was with. However, before he could say anything, I had slipped away and through the crowd with Laura, before he had his words out. I laughed within myself at Nick's reaction and his curiosity, predicting that there would be some questions back at work on Monday, but I knew that was then and this was now. We ventured through the gallery and wandered out to the stairs leading to the street outside. The air was warm and the open space of the outside world presented me with a sense of invigoration. When I had felt stuffy and constricted in the gallery, despite its large rooms, I felt at ease with the fresh air outside. Nevertheless, Laura still emitted a radiance of some kind of energy that had my heart racing and I prayed that the roaring heat I felt would dissolve as the conversation continued freely between us. Once we hailed a cab to travel to her house, I found that sitting beside each other in the backseat was an exhilarating experience, for me at least-I had no idea what she was thinking. It felt like an electrical bubble had wrapped around Laura and I, a kind of sparking current flowing around us. It was probably just my imagination though. I noticed her fragrance drifting around her, and deciphered a mixture of rose and citrus notes layered with traces of a light spice. After this first whiff I had to make sure I didn't breathe too deeply in such close proximity to her-I was having trouble retaining my conduct as it was without overloading my senses. Our conversation remained light and easy, with the exchanging of words being a remarkable feat for me since I had to control my thoughts, words and actions all at once. Laura, however, was as relaxed as ever, the streetlights casting drifting shadows across her prominent features. At one point it occurred to me that I felt a great deal of gratitude to this woman, after all she had done for me after the accident, but I knew that gratitude wasn't all that I felt for her. I found her alluring and I was without a doubt attracted to her, but I couldn't forget that I also felt a definite sense of respect and admiration for her. She had assisted me when I had been through a situation I could had never predicted and had healed me before I was even aware I had been injured. I wasn't sure if I'd placed her on a pedestal, but I was at least certain that I felt a connection with her; partly since she had seen me in a vulnerable state but also because she was so magnificent with her beauty and intellect. As we travelled, Laura sat behind the driver's seat, her knees resting together just below the hem of her dress, while the rest of her body relaxed into the seat. Beside her, I had an excellent view of her side profile and at times I found myself savouring the definition of her neck and the sharpness of her jaw as she spoke. She was beautiful, her face swept with the combination of light and shadow from the night around us. I wanted to brush her cheek with the tips of my fingers and lean in to place my lips against hers, tainting my lips with the crimson of her lipstick. The sparks of electricity from her gentle touch back in the hospital hadn't left my memory and I longed so badly to relive the same sensation. Despite my yearning, I did none of those things I longed to do, instead I kept my hands to myself and carried on with our conversation. I hadn't noticed any self-explanatory signs that she was attracted to me, but she wasn't particularity easy to read either. She hid her thoughts behind her smiles and her emerald eyes and I found that it only intensified her enigma. I wouldn't hold out hope for the unlikely forever, but hoping that slim chances will prove fruitful is an enjoyable folly of mine, so I continued to quietly anticipate any possibilities. "We're almost there, this is my street," Her eyes flickered out the window about ten minutes into the cab ride and she turned back to me as I peered out into the street we travelled along. We were passing through the residential apartment areas of Aurora, one which I hardly visited, about twenty minutes away from my apartment and much closer to the inner city. Moments later the cab had pulled up and before Laura had paid for the ride, I slipped out my card and pressed it into the driver's hand, smiling despite Laura's protests. "Oh, thank you Sarah, I appreciate it," she succumbed, giving me a grateful look. "It's the least I can do," I replied as we stepped out from the cab and made our way along the path and up to a large apartment, much newer and more liberally architectural than mine. "Here we are, this is my apartment," she clarified, as I followed her lead into the entrance hall and through to one of the assortment of elevators. I braced myself for the cramped area of the elevator, knowing that I felt a lot less nervous with more space between us. After pressing the button for the seventh floor, Laura settled beside me as the elevator lurched swiftly upwards. I found the mirror in the elevator slightly distracting, with two duplicates of Laura I realized I could barely handle myself around one of her, let alone a perfect duplicate. I tried to act just as normal as I would in any other instance, and I was pleased to see that I kept up my calm demeanour. Her gaze fixed on me curiously for some moments and the eye contact simmered through me, that newly remembered sense of energy surging through my chest vigorously. I wondered what she was thinking in moments like that. The elevator sang out its arrival to the seventh floor and Laura led the way out into a well lit and spacious hallway. She strode down the hall and I was once again impressed by her talent at walking so well in heels. Stopping by the door of her apartment she paused to scan her card and enter a code in the keypad on the door, she opened the door and stepped through. I followed behind her and found myself in a spacious, modern living area complete with leather lounges and a large flat screen television. Laura beamed as she placed her handbag on a small table beside the clothes pole, at which she gestured, "Please, leave your jacket there if you'd like, it's quite warm in here." "Sure," I obliged her and slipped my jacket off to hang it up. "Would you like a drink? Wine maybe, or something else?" she asked, still smiling. "A glass of water would be good, please." "Okay, I'll be right over in a moment," she nodded and turned to move to another side of the room where a large kitchen adjoined the living area, beside a large dining table arrangement. I moved slowly into these new surroundings, enjoying the warmth and lightness of the pale colour scheme and dark, bold furniture. I noticed a few artworks along the walls, tastefully providing a little colour and expression in the consistency of the furniture, but there were none of the artist's works from the exhibition earlier. I guessed that she must have kept them in another area of her apartment. The sounds of a cupboard opening and a tap running could be heard from the kitchen as I wandered through the living room and approached the kitchen until Laura came into view. She placed a glass of water down on the counter before fetching a bottle of wine from a small cooler and pouring another glass with a bottle of pale wine. I complimented her apartment as she handed me a glass of water and she brought her glass of wine around from the kitchen as we returned to the living area. "Tell me, have you ever considered having a family?" She asked curiously. "Er... Not really. I'm not sure it would work at this stage." "Oh, why not, just the lack of time?" "Partly, I guess I just haven't found the right..." I paused nervously, knowing I might as well state the truth,"...Woman, as well though, too." I swallowed and took another sip of water to wash away the bitter taste of nervousness that had filled my taste buds. "Fair enough, neither have I," Laura replied, a hit of sympathy in her voice. I almost spat my drink out as her response had my mind whirling in bewilderment. "What do you mean?" I asked dumbly, my heart racing twofold. "Well it's been tricky finding the right woman I guess. Or maybe I've been fussy or just unlucky, I'm not sure, probably both," she laughed uncertainly, possibly trying to ignore my surprise at the fact that she was interested in women. It's stupid, I know, but I foolishly couldn't help but feel startled by the knowledge she was interested in women. I'll admit it, she looked just like any other classic feminine hetero woman and I was glad my shitty belief in stereotypes had finally just been shattered. I was filled with a wave of surprise, then pure exhilaration. "Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. It can be difficult not only with being busy, but with a slimmer pool of fish to choose from, I guess," was the sympathy I offered her, as my mind reshuffled its thoughts frantically like a stack of cards. I realized that this entire situation had taken on a different meaning and I had perhaps found myself with a genuine, valid chance with Laura after all. "Yes, we'll find that right person someday anyway," she smiled, before changed the subject as she drained the last mouthful of her wine, placing her lipstick stained glass on the coffee table. "Would you like to take a look at the collection now?" she asked, standing up gracefully. She led me along to the other side of the living area and along a spacious hallway with several doors along it. Along the way I realized that her apartment was actually quite large and found myself wishing that mine was as spacious. We reached a door which Laura opened and on following her through I found myself in an open room with two lounges as the only furniture within. The white walls were adorned with eight of the artist's works and a few other artist's works as well. I was actually surprised that the room was so neatly arranged but I respected Laura even more. I appreciated that she placed a preference on ensuring the works were perfectly presented-a lot like she presented herself, I realized. I wandered throughout the room, taking in all of the works, but making sure I wasn't taking too long, knowing I didn't want to overstay my welcome. Laura and I chatted as we progressed through the works and she pointed out her favourite of all of them, a painted portrait of a woman with gold tears dripping along her cheeks. I wondered if the painting held some kind of personal significance to her, but I didn't feel like prying-I wanted to keep things simple at this hour. I was beginning to think I had better mention that I should probably get going, anyway. I made to turn around and let Laura know I was planning to call it a night, since she had moved along behind me and out of view. She was presumably moving off to take a look at one of the other works or moving to sit on one of the lounges. However, as I began to turn, I felt something brush against the upper centre of my back and missed a breath in surprise. Laura's hand had settled against my back, her palm held firm against my shirt, her fingers spreading as they trailed downwards. I tensed with surprise, registering in a split second how unexpected her touch was. I turned to face her, absorbed by the lightness in her eyes as she stared through me, and I could see a contemplation within her gaze that startled me. She smiled, but her eyes kept their pensiveness as she moved her hand to rest on my arm. "Listen, I don't really know how to say this, but I need to make something clear," she whispered, as I made to ask her what she was doing. She held my wary attention as she continued, her voice still low and almost cautious, "I've enjoyed tonight, it's been nice and I've been thinking that if you'd like to, you can stay a little longer?" I blinked, knowing her hand was still against my arm and her proximity to me was making my stomach flutter. I could see the intricate patterns of her iris shining at me as I prepared a response. "Well I don't really want to stay too long..." I trailed off as I tried to think of a reason why I should go, but my nervousness was clouding my thoughts and I failed to come up with something in time. "Oh, I think I could persuade you to stay just a little longer," Laura interjected into my silence, her expression shifting. Before I knew what was happening, her eyes had darkened behind her lashes, her head inclining towards me, as a mystifying shadow danced along her sharp features. The Rise after the Fall I held my breath, my lungs paralysed with the knowledge of what was coming, unable to believe that here I was, alone with Laura in that very moment in time. Her lips were soft in their first touch, warm and gentle as they drifted across mine, wavering delicately as if to signify her initial timidity. After this early lightness, during which I hadn't moved a muscle, since they were all tensed in disbelief, she pulled back only slightly. Her eyes were still slightly closed after the kiss as she regarded me, probably waiting for my response. I sighed, just a little huff of dazed enjoyment which I hoped would reveal how I was feeling about this sudden kiss, since I was unable to gather any words. As soon as I felt my heart race with elation I knew I felt the urge to continue; I just couldn't allow her kiss to be the first and last one between us. Laura hovered a breath away, her lips still parted as she blinked dreamily. In a moment my lips sought out hers, the need to reveal my enjoyment compelling me as my confidence rose. I needed her to know I desired her, that I wasn't just playing along, but kissing her willingly and with significance. She relaxed into our kiss, her other hand wrapping around my side, as we felt the pressure gradually increasing between us. At some point my hand had wandered up and along her waist, the fabric of her dress warm from the heat of her skin. I wanted to peel away the dress, let it slip down to the floor so she could feel my hands skimming hungrily along her bare torso. I visualised her naked form, which I suspected would be truly exquisite, but I knew my imagination would never come close to satisfying my curiosity. At the back of my mind, however, was the knowledge that this all seemed too good to be true. And then it hit me like a pile of bricks: Laura had been drinking. I had withheld the temptation to drink all evening since I had lost interest in alcohol ever since the car accident. In fact, I hadn't just lost interest in alcohol, I had a disdain for it which I hadn't worked up the courage to tell many people, let alone Laura. For me, at that stage in my life, alcohol seemed like far more trouble than it was worth, and was a one way ticket leading to death for some, as I had bitterly experienced. Her consumption of alcohol meant to me that we weren't on equal terms and that her mindset wasn't as functional as it could be if she were sober. In short, I just couldn't deal with it and it was a mood killer on my part. I pulled back from the kiss silently and took a step back, not meeting her eyes. Laura froze in surprise, her face revealing her astonishment as she realized I was creating sudden space between us. I felt ashamed, convinced that I would be taking advantage of her if we continued and I didn't ever want to do that, especially when I was beginning to really feel something for her. Silence hung over us for a minute as I watched her warily, seeing the disappointment in her eyes that made me want to just continue. But I couldn't. "Laura, look, I just don't think this is a good time. I'm sorry," I said, trying to keep my voice level, standing there with my arms limply by my sides. In that moment I really loathed myself for interrupting that special moment with Laura, but I knew there was nothing I could do to get it back as it was in its authentic state. "What do you mean?" she asked, bewildered and a little wounded. "I just, I don't know. This is kind of sudden that's all." "I... I know, but what's wrong with sudden? We can't always prepare for things." She was right, but I couldn't stand that she was correct. "I guess it's just that you've been drinking... I don't want you or us to make a mistake or not be sure or something," I muttered, shrugging defensively. "I've had only a couple of drinks, I'm just slightly buzzed," she reasoned, but I wasn't buying it. "I don't know. I do like you, but I mean, we're only just starting to really get to know each other. I just don't want things to feel rushed." "So you're feeling rushed then?" she indicted, her defensiveness rising. It was obvious that she was definitely hurt by my reluctance, and the last thing I had wanted was to offend her. I hadn't ever wanted to end up caught in the slowly escalating heaviness around us. "No, I mean, yes. Look, I care about you but we've barely gotten to know each other Laura," I tried to soothe her but her features were strangely cold. The tendons along her neck had tensed and her hands had curled into frustrated fists at her sides. When I finally made solid, if nerve-wracking contact with her eyes, her gaze burned into mine cruelly. "I think maybe you should leave, Sarah," her voice was low, icy. Disturbingly rigid. "Wha- I mean, I don't want the night to end like this, can't we just try and-" "What? Fix things? I think it's pretty clear that they're unfixable. There's nothing here after all, I made a mistake," she interrupted, her voice rising. "Laura, that's not true, I just think some more time will make things better." "Forget about it, I was wrong. Could you show yourself out, now, please?" "Hang on, just wait a minute," I stuttered pleadingly, shocked at her change of heart. "I said, forget about it, okay, Sarah? Now get out, please!" She shrieked, losing her control as her inner rage broke free. Maybe this was just her defence mechanism, but I wasn't trying to hurt her. How could things get out of hand so quickly? "I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice cracking, as I fought the urge to yell back at her and the weakness of allowing my watering eyes to spill tears. My head fell and I staggered past her, keeping space between us as I passed, avoiding all eye contact with her. My hands were clammy and numb as I wrenched open the door leading out to the hallway of the apartment complex. Shakily closing it behind me I found myself resisting the urge to slam it in frustration. I stood there for a moment, right outside her door, beginning to shake as the shock began to completely consume me. I stumbled down the hallway and came to a rest several feet from her door, my shoulders slamming into the wall as I tried to steady myself. I stared at my feet through watery vision, hot tears falling despite my determination to not dissolve before I made it back to my apartment. Over the years I had perfected the art of silent crying, but I didn't escape the notice of an elderly couple returning to what must have been their apartment. They tried to ask me if I was okay, but I just shrugged and hurried past them to the elevator they'd just emerged from. I didn't want to talk and they watched me helplessly as the elevator doors slid closed, shielding me from view. That night I couldn't sleep until only an hour or so before sunrise. I woke slowly with swollen eyes from my crying during the night before, thankful that I didn't have work on Saturdays. I whipped up a coffee and checked my phone, regretting that I had never even exchanged numbers with Laura. I think maybe it would have given me a sense of understanding if she had contacted me, or I had contacted her. But I remembered how angry she had become and how badly the night had ended, and was relieved in a sense. I'd never need to face her again, as long as I didn't end up back at that hospital. The rest of the day passed quickly. I spent a few hours out running errands, before returning home to continue some projects from work. I guess I always brought home a lot of assignments to keep me busy and up to date at work, but I was relieved that they offered me a distraction from thoughts of Laura. During the party that night, I spoke briefly with Luke, the host and centre of centre of attention at his twenty sixth birthday celebration. Although he had to work his way around all fifty or so guests for conversation, he still offered me his undivided attention during our brief conversation. "So how have things been, Sarah?" he asked cheerfully, his grin infectious. "Ah, they've been good," I replied automatically, before faltering with my smile for a moment. My eyes had lost their bloodshot appearance from the night before but Luke hadn't missed my unhappiness. "Oh, but not entirely, eh?" he stated, confirming that he knew I wasn't entirely happy. "Well, sort of," I settled, deciding to let my façade down for just a moment. I'd known Luke since high school, so I figured I had a better chance of honest responses and feedback from him than from most other people I knew. So I told him what had happened with Laura and he listened. "Hey. It's not your fault. I think you did the right thing-if you'd continued things might have been even more complicated. I think maybe it's better in the long run, for both of you, you know?" he reasoned, trying to ease my pain a little. I appreciated his gesture, "Yeah, you're right. Thanks Luke," I smiled appreciatively. "Hey, it's the least I can do. And you know what? Maybe she'll come around, things might work out after all. But, even if things don't work, you know, it might be better that way," he finished, regarding me kindly. For the rest of our conversation we talked about his life, his girlfriend and how his work at the local news station was going. Seeing him so happy was invigorating, but his enthusiasm for life didn't penetrate me like it usually did. I felt numb and lacking, like something had been jammed up inside me and wasn't functioning. I knew it was to do with last night, but I also knew that it would fade eventually and I'd be back to normal as soon as I forgot about Laura. At work on Monday I still felt a little dismal, hell, I felt utterly crushed. But I threw myself into my work and was able to feel satisfied with the amount of progress I'd made by the time lunch break swung around. I'd managed to avoid Nick right up until lunchtime. He spotted me and swooped in, nagging me for any info about 'the gorgeous' friend of mine. Not wanting to talk about Laura, I attempted to flee him by departing quickly for lunch but he followed me until I made it into the front foyer entrance. I suddenly found that I couldn't formulate my answer to one of his last questions as I stopped in my tracks. My eyes honed in on a tall woman wearing a pale suit, her dark hair tied up immaculately, standing a few steps away from the front counter. Her back faced me and I couldn't see her face, although her figure and excellent posture was recognisable instantly. As if she knew of someone watching her, she turned to look in my direction, her face unreadable as we made eye contact. "Oh, look who it is, eh?" snickered Nick at my side, amused by my startled expression, before he shuffled up and past me to exit hurriedly through the front entrance, nervously looking back at me but avoiding looking at her. He clearly didn't have the nerve for an introduction after all, I thought, and I would have laughed at his timidity if I hadn't been in such a storm of thoughts myself. Standing alone in the wide expanse of the front foyer, I felt a little lost as to what to do, now that I was only metres away from Laura. I took a deep breath and swallowed, willing myself to have the strength to talk to her, as she straightened and approached me, her strides closing the distance between us. What did she want? She looked a little unsure of herself, even though she still carried herself in her professional manner. Despite the absence of her white coat which spoke levels about her occupation, she still wore her identification card from the hospital. I figured she must have just come from the hospital to spend some time out on break. But why she'd come here of all places, I wasn't sure. "Hello," she greeted me politely, a flicker of awkwardness evident in her voice and the way she wrung her hands slightly before retaining her composure. "Um, hi," I felt glum and rather cold, not bothering with any sense of cheer. I had my guard up, since she made me more nervous than ever. "Look, I came here just to see if you might be free. I'm on break and I wondered if you'd be free at some point today, or maybe tomorrow even tomorrow-" "I don't really want to talk." I surprised myself with the stiff coldness in my voice as I cut her off. But I wasn't lying, I really didn't want to spend time with her at that point. "I just want to apologize for Saturday night. I really, well, I made a mistake, a big mistake. I shouldn't have been so cruel," her honesty was already beginning to thaw out the edges of my coldness. "I don't know," I said, raising my hands doubtfully, offering her a little leeway. "Look, I don't want to leave things as they are. Could we just talk? That's all," her voice had dropped as a colleague of mine walked past us, watching us curiously. I appreciated her discretion and I decided that maybe I could just have a quick chat with her. It was a reasonable request after all, and I did want to at least try to smooth things over and repair the damage, even if we never really could get past it. "Okay," I said, sighing in admission. "I've just started my lunch break, do you have enough time right now?" "Yes, I still have over half an hour before I need to be back at the hospital." I nodded, and we walked out from the front foyer and into the bright day of the fading spring. Neither of us spoke until we'd made it outside, the fresh air provide a sense of refreshment which I guess helped us both relax a little. It was nice to be away from the confines of the workplace and I suggested we visit a nearby bistro for lunch. We arrived at the bistro, having not spoken much at all. Shaded from the bright sunlight by a large umbrella at the table, the weather perfect around us, it almost felt like a dream. We began to talk, carefully at first, then more openly about the disaster of Saturday night. Laura was apologetic and feeling guilty, but it was to her credit that she put a real effort in to try and fix things, as did I. Laura had come looking for me, maybe she was feeling pretty regretful after all, and I actually felt a little less harsh towards her because she'd been proactive in seeking me out. By the end of the lunch things were looking a little better between us, the animosity on my part fading slowly into hope. No matter how much I had put my guard up, Laura was still beautiful and charming. I was glad we were able to stay in contact after we exchanged numbers, it was a sign that she wanted to keep in touch and I willingly obliged. It seemed things could begin to work out after all. The rest of the day passed much easily, even though Nick was still tossing a handful of questions about Laura at me until I return to the peace and solitude of my office. That night after her shift, Laura called me and we talked for almost half an hour. It was new talking to someone on the phone, aside from work it was something I seldom did, aside from the random calls between family and I. I found her charisma uplifting, the way she spoke was different to most other people I knew. She said what she meant and although her voice wasn't deep, it was a beautiful blend of soothing and rich tones. Her voice alone pierced me and seemed to get me to open up a little as we talked. Even when she wasn't beside me in the flesh. After the phone call I soaked myself in a bath for the first time in weeks-I usually showered, but that night I wanted something different. I almost fell asleep in the pleasantly warm water, but my mind kept me busy as I considered the past day's events. I realized that although I still felt hesitant with Laura, that didn't mean things wouldn't ever work out. I was just thankful that she was at least trying to fix the nightmare of Saturday night and it seemed to be working. After that first phone call, floating in that bath with the lights dimmed low had me thinking that I'd already changed more than I was conscious of. I did notice that I was feeling particularly nervous while we spoke on the phone, but what really caught my attention was my racing heartbeat and a sense of excitement and longing for her. I had really wanted her there with me instead of her being in her apartment, all those blocks away. It seemed that something seemed to be stirring in me again, the feelings I had for her felt a little more rejuvenated. The next couple of days at work were nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual projects and a few group meetings with fellow staff. The weather was pleasantly warm, the scent of the incoming summer fresh in the temperate air. Often I would spend my lunchbreaks out in the sunshine at various local cafes and bistros. I knew I was in trouble when I would find myself daydreaming about Laura in moments when I wasn't furrowing over work, or when I was making a coffee, or when I was out and about. The next Thursday night, as I arrived at my apartment at the end of a busy day of work, I felt my phone buzz and hurriedly pulled it from my pocket. The illuminated screen flashed up with Laura's name and without hesitating I answered her call. She was taking a short break at the hospital and announced that she wanted to catch up during the next evening if it was possible for me. I was pleased that I was actually free that night and agreed that Friday night would be a suitable time. The exhilaration racing through me spoke for itself-after not seeing her for a fortnight since we'd both been busy, although we'd talked on the phone a couple more times, I was as eager as her to catch up. We made plans for the next evening and by the end of the phone call I was feeling a lot more reassured that this was what I wanted. Laura sounded comfortable and by the end of our conversation I hoped she understood how much I looked forward to seeing her. As much as I hated feeling all over the place, I realized that I hadn't felt this unique mixture of desire and nervousness for too long. I had surfed the waves of uncertainty and was almost to the shore. By the end of Friday the workweek had almost taken its toll on me, but I found myself enlivened by a second wind brought on by the knowledge that in a matter of an hour I would be seeing Laura. I arrived home at the usual time of quarter to six and hurried through my apartment to lay out the clothes I wanted to wear before showering with an unusually energetic pace. Once I had dressed, I ran a light amount of wax through my hair and blow dried it just to make sure it would be well dried before dinner. I applied a slight amount of makeup just to cover the few blemishes I did have and brushed my teeth, thankful for the invention of toothpaste which left my breath cool and clean. Setting off from my apartment in a cab, I knew I had enough time to get to the restaurant, even through the evening traffic. I was also happy with my choice of wearing my pale blue button up shirt, a black jacket and pants. Once I arrived at the restaurant I felt more electric than I had since lunch with Laura over a week ago. Before I had even looked along the sidewalk to see if Laura had arrived in the sea of cars, a familiar voice was calling out to me. I whipped around to see her walking towards me from another cab, my breath hitching as she approached. She wore a white dress, form-fitting but classy, her hair tied back in an elegant bun as usual. Her white heels matched her bag in colour and once she'd come a little closer I could see her dark lipstick and shadowed eyes. She strode up to me, her eyes glittering in the light of the setting sun above us and we embraced in greeting. The fabric of her dress was soft and crisp under my fingers, her perfume as intoxicating as ever. As she wrapped her arms around me for the light embrace, I thought I heard her give a little sigh before the hug ended.