15 Whispers in the Dark

After a nearly hour-long journey, James arrived in front of a charming bungalow—an embodiment of American Craftsman architecture. This one-storey bungalow-style featured a sloping roof, a sizable porch with overhanging eaves, and an open floor plan.

James walked up to the house and rang the bell. After a long wait, the door creaked open. The room inside was pitch dark, making it impossible to see who had opened the door. James entered quietly, as if the very air around him was holding its breath.

Suddenly it felt as though a woman had lunged on him, her kisses were urgent and restless…James, overcome by desire, pressed his lips against her.

In the enveloping darkness, a muffled sound echoed- a collision of breath and desire. The air crackled with palpable tension as a man and a woman stood together, their mutual attraction impossible to ignore. Their hands moved urgently, shedding layers of clothes as desire consumed them.

They kissed each other hungrily, lost in desire, as if they craved more than just kisses.

James lifted the woman and carefully set her down on the bed. His intense desire was visible. Then, unable to hold back any longer, he eagerly pounced upon her.

The woman's audible breaths mingled with the unmistakable sound of James's desperation.

He gradually moved towards the bottom of the woman, licking her entire body, gently positioning his head between her thighs. He could hear the woman's screams, but they were not cries of pain; they were sounds of pleasure.

In the darkness, James remained in that position for an extended duration. Lady's passionate moans hinted that she craved James' presence between her legs.

After some time, the woman screamed his name loudly, reaching a peak. Her entire body trembled, and the screams gradually subsided. James rested his head between the woman's thighs, lingering there for a while.

The woman's soft voice broke the silence. "Don't you have anything else to do?" she asked. James replied with a brief but heartfelt answer, "Not today. Today, my only task is to make you satisfied."

Both of them reclined on the bed, remaining in that position for an extended period.

Woman: "How was everything there?"

James, quietly rising from his seated position, donned his clothes, lit a cigarette, and settled back onto the bed, responding with a simple, "It was okay."

Woman: "What do you think? Is the work going to be easy or difficult?" she asked, taking the cigarette from James.

James, his voice laden with gravity, replied, "It shouldn't be overly difficult, but we can't afford to underestimate it either."

Their conversation appeared cryptic, as if they were speaking in some secret code.

A moment of silence passed. It was 3:00 AM in the morning.

James rose from the bed and spoke softly, "I need to leave. Let me rest for a few hours; I have a client meeting at 8:00 AM.'" The woman remained still, her silence perhaps an unspoken agreement.

...…..

Sophie lay in bed, her eyes shut, trying to fall asleep. But sleep wouldn't come. Her thoughts raced, playing Brenda's words on a loop.

"I agree, James supported me and took care of me in such a delicate situation, but ... Am I trusting him too quickly?.....I am already paying the price for trusting a stranger. I'm making the same mistake again…"

Sophie pondered, her inner voice wrestling with doubt. The past's scars still throbbed, cautioning her against blind faith.

"But Gabriel never stepped into the light, always lingering behind the screen. He didn't even have the least amount of trust in me.

But James... he stands by my side, a steadfast presence whenever I call. His actions hold no enigma; there's nothing peculiar about his intentions…. How can I not place my trust in him?"

Sophie's mind agitated, caught in the throes of self-debate.

"Didn't you think even once, Gabriel? What will happen to me when you vanish without a trace? Didn't you consider it for a moment!" Sophie's voice cracked… her tears flowing freely.

Alone in her solitude, she abandoned silent contemplation. Each word emerged from her lips, as though Gabriel could hear her across the vast expanse, and she poured out her grievances like a vulnerable child.

"I began our conversations at 19, and now, at 23, it feels as though my journey from adolescence to adulthood unfolded alongside you. You've been my guide, teaching me life's intricacies….." ( she had hiccups while she was sobbing)

"You knew the fragility of my heart, and yet, without hesitation, you shattered it." Sophie shouted the final words, her hands clamped over her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

She startled as footsteps approached her room. Perhaps her cries had been so loud that Brenda heard them and was coming to check on her.

Sophie abruptly ceased her tears, settling down quietly, her face buried in the pillow

No sooner had Brenda opened the door and switched on the light then she saw Sophie sleeping. Brenda approached Sophie to confirm that Sophie was indeed asleep, and the voice she had heard did not come from this room.

As Brenda stood near her bed, Sophie's emotions fell apart. She wanted to hug Brenda right away, to cry, and share everything, but she couldn't.

Sophie felt out of breath as she struggled to hold back her sobs. The bedsheet beneath her was soaked with tears, yet she lay there without a sound.

Eventually, Brenda turned off the light and quietly exited the room, leaving Sophie unaware of her own emotional turmoil.