The afternoon sun shone in her window. She could hear the birds singing outside and children playing in the street below. Her head pounded. She consciously slowed her breathing, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She climbed out of bed, wincing at the pain in her head. "Why did I do that?" She asked herself, regretting drinking the night before.

Suddenly, she remembered the pond, and the stranger. Jeff. Had that really happened? Was that a dream as well? She rubbed her fingers on her lips, remembering his touch. No, it was real. It was very real. But why did he take off so suddenly? They barely had time to talk. She knew nothing else about him now than she did before. Except his name, and the passion in his kiss. She didn’t know where he lived, where he came from, nothing. She didn’t even know to reach him, or how he was going to reach her. He left before she could give him her number. He had to get in touch though. Dani glanced over to the armchair in her room. His black leather jacket lay draped over the arm. She walked over and picked it up. Hugging it to herself, she inhaled deeply. It smelled of leather and cologne. Something deep inside her stirred at the scent.

"Jeff," she said out loud, almost sighing.

She lay the jacket back down and went to the kitchen. She was starving. She made herself a huge sandwich of ham, turkey, roast beef and cheese. She placed it on a paper plate and walked to the back sliding doors. She opened the dark curtain and blinked at the light as it entered the room. As her eyes adjusted, she was surprised to see a man sitting on the bench across from her apartment under the tree. She gasped. It was Jeff. He wore jeans again, and a plain white T-shirt. He had dark sunglasses on and was reclining, looking at the sky.

He looked up when he saw the movement from her door and smiled when he saw her. Dani opened the door.

"Hi!" She said, "What are you doing here? I didn’t know you knew where I lived."

"Hi," was all he said.

"Umm… Do you want to come inside?"

"Sure."

They entered her apartment and she motioned to the couch. "Go ahead and have a seat. I was just getting ready to eat. Do you want anything?"

"No, I’m fine," he said taking off his glasses, "But go ahead."

"Thanks. I’m so hungry I could eat a cow."

Jeff kind of smirked at that.

"What?" Asked Dani.

"Nothing, that’s just a funny expression."

Dani went to the stereo. "How about some music?" She asked as she put on a CD.

"Sure. I like music."

"How long were you out there?"

"Oh, not long. I was just waiting for you to wake up."

Dani wondered how he knew she was still sleeping, but didn’t ask. Instead she said, "You forgot your jacket last night."

"No I didn’t," he said.

Dani blushed at that. "Well, do you want it back? It’s in my room."

"No, no hurry. I’ll get it before I leave."

"Speaking of leaving… Why did you take off like that last night? We didn’t even get to talk."

"I had something to tend to. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave you."

"Well, you’re here now, and you’re not leaving right?"

"Right."

"So, let’s talk," Dani said.

"Ok. Tell me about yourself. You’re not from here," said Jeff. Again, this was a statement, not a question.

"Right…. How do you know so much about me?"

"I have my resources," he said mysteriously.

"Well, you’re right, I’m not from here." Dani told him about moving to the City and the disasters that followed. "I was out driving one day and found this little town. I like the country, and this just seemed to fit my life at the time. Still does actually. I like that I can drive 5 minutes out of town and be surrounded by nothing but nature. I’ve always been drawn to nature. Something about it is very calming to me."

"You know, me too. I feel so comfortable in nature. Like last night, just being next to you in such natural surroundings. The way the light reflected off the pond made you seem very angelic."

Dani giggled, "I don’t think I’ve ever been accused of being angelic before."

"Well, you were. I hope you weren’t offended at my forwardness in kissing you last night."

"Not at all."

"Good, because I may just do it again."

"That would be nice," she said leaning in towards him.

"I said I MAY do it again, not that I was going to," he said.

Dani pulled back, confused.

"Don’t get me wrong," he said, "I want to kiss you, but I just have to remember the bigger picture."

"The bigger picture? What are you talking about?"

"Just that you and I aren’t the ones involved in this. There are others. In time you will understand."

"Jeff, I don’t know what you are talking about. Last I checked the only ones here are you and me, and we both want this, but you keep talking in some kind of code or something that I don’t understand. You want to kiss me but you can’t because of others? It seems to me that you are the one holding back and you just want to blame it on something else. I don’t know what the problem is, but I wish you would get over it and kiss me finally."

"Danielle," he said, using her proper name, "As I said, in time you’ll understand. For now, I have to go."

Dani’s mouth fell open. "Wha… what is your problem? We finally get time to talk and now you’re leaving again? You know Jeff, if this is how it is going to be then nevermind. I don’t want it."

"If that is how you feel," Jeff said quietly, turning from her. He stood for a moment, not moving. "Great song," he commented, and then he left through the back door.

Dani sat in shock for a moment after he was gone. What had she done? She just sent away the one prospect in her meagre love life in years. But why was she so upset. He was the one being so secretive and mysterious. Somehow though, that was appealing to her. She wondered again what he meant by the big picture and how they weren’t the only ones involved. He was so strange, yet she was still drawn to him. But now he was gone. Maybe to never return. She still didn’t know anything about him or how to contact him. She sighed, listening to the stereo.

Dani ran to the door, desperate to bring Jeff back and apologize for being so rude. But he was no where to be seen. She closed the door and leaned against it, sinking to the floor.