"Oh God!" She came awake with a start. It had been the same dream again. She couldn’t remember how many times she had it. But this time, she had come so close!
She turned to look at the clock. It was still in the early hours of the morning. The bedroom felt stifling. She would never get back to sleep. She rose and frantically searched for some clothes.
He sat in the bed, wondering how much longer before he succumbed to sleep. If he waited until he collapsed from exhaustion, then the dream could not hold him so strongly. Hopefully, tonight it wouldn’t be so real. Then he might not call out her name.
He turned to look at the woman sleeping beside him. Once he had thought her the true love of his life. She had caused him great joy and great heartache. Now all he felt was guilt. She had given up so much for him, and he could give her nothing in return. They hardly made love anymore. It took a great deal of persuasion from her, and in the end they both felt frustrated. If he conjured up the face of the other one, there would be no problem. But then he would be unfaithful to them both, and the guilt would kill him.
Knowing that it would be some time before he would be able to sleep, he arose, careful not to awake his partner. Perhaps a walk would help him to relax.
The streets seemed almost deserted. The early rain and chill night must have kept people in. Yet, there seemed almost a clean feeling to the city. As if the past had been wiped away. The couple approached from opposite directions, neither aware of the other’s presence. A few yards apart they looked up, and stopped, recognising each other instantly.
For a moment they just stared, neither wishing to break the moment with words. And as they looked, they knew. There was no need for words. Each realised why the other was walking the streets in the middle of the night. Slowly they came closer, not breaking the contact.
There were no questions, no explanations of lost chances. Talking would come later. For now, it was enough to acknowledge that which had been between them from the beginning. As their lips gently melded, they knew the promise they were making at that moment. No matter what, the truth was exposed, and they would go forward from this moment together.