She looked curious and he didn't give her time to answer.

- I'm curious to know what you do for a living, Susana. What gives you pleasure and what you do in your spare time.

He smiled.

So for more than two hours they chatted in order to get to know each other better.

Susana was a mature woman aged 55, single and working in a library. Oscar was a 35-year-old computer whiz, not married. He had rented a flat to be closer to where he worked. The family was in Guimarães. He chose Gaia because it was closer to the sea and the apartments in Porto might be more expensive. Going from Gaia to Porto was a no-go. At first he didn't need to, there was a bus at the door and with the building work he would never get there.

Of course, there was much more to know and talk about, but they had all the time in the world.

- I'll take you home.

Óscar said, looking at her half-jokingly

- unless you want to see my flat? He asked. Susana looked at him and then lowered her eyes. She didn't know what to say, but she knew how she felt and she didn't want Óscar to know.

- I think it's a good idea. It's close by, so you'll know where I live.

- OK, Susana replied without saying anything more.

Susana was still a bit dizzy. She couldn't understand how a boy of his age, with the figure he had, could be interested in her. She was past menopause and had gained a lot of weight. His face had no wrinkles, but it was quite full, and then she knew that age wasn't just about wrinkles, it was everything, the look, the posture, a series of marks that went far beyond the wrinkles. That was her belief, even though everyone generally told her she looked very good.

They arrived at his flat and he said: "This is where I cook, this is the living room where I eat, the door on the left is the bathroom and on the right is my bedroom. As you can see, it's a huge flat. And he smiled.

It was a modern flat, though, with an open plan and plenty of privacy in the bedroom.

She walked across the room, trying not to look into the bedroom, and stood at the window, which had a door next to it that led out onto the balcony. She felt him too close. She could smell him, she could almost feel his skin. She couldn't move. His hands took her gently and turned her towards him.

- Don't be nervous. We've wanted this for a long time.