After a few seconds, I finally detach my lips from hers, to catch my breath. It's so intense! I've never shared a kiss like that. I look at Stella for her reaction. She smiles and sticks her forehead on my cheek. I smile in turn, relieved. I want this moment to never end. I would like to stay here, on this beach, forever, with her.

Unfortunately, time is of the essence. In a little less than half an hour, a new night round will take place and, better that we are back before we get caught. I climb Stella on my back and I go up the path I went down before. The climb is much harder than I thought, and it takes me longer to get to the top of the cliff. At the end of my breath, I find myself in the chair where I delicately place the girl I just kissed. Just thinking about it, my heart is racing.

Before I went out, I had taken the trouble of putting a piece of tape on the lock to prevent it from locking again, and to save time, in case we had lingered on the beach. The entrance hall is deserted and we quickly return to the elevator. In addition to the panoramic view offered by all glass walls, I can also count on the discretion of the elevator in terms of noise. We reach the corridor of the rooms and I run behind the chair. Speed surprises Stella and makes her laugh. This is really the perfect end to a perfect night.

I stop at her door and open it while checking that we are still alone. We enter quickly and I close the door behind me. Stella rolls her chair up to bed level and turns to me.

"Will you help me, please?" she asks me with a small smile.

"Your wish is my command," I reply, forcing my English accent to do more "Shakespearean".

As she laughs, I walk towards her. I bend down to pass a hand under her knee and my arm behind her back to lift her up. She puts her arms around my neck and keeps staring at me until I put her on the bed. I'm going to get up, but her little hands are still blocking my neck. There's a mischievous look on his face. I start laughing.

"Stella, I know you can't do without me," I say with a tease, "but I have to go, even if I don't want to."

She wears a sulky pout and I feel her hands slide up to my collarbones before leaving my body permanently. A silence settles between us before she breaks it.

"Hero, I wanted to thank you for tonight," she says. "No one has ever gone to this much trouble for me and... you really are an exceptional person. Don't forget that."

Her words make me feel better. I lay a little kiss on her nose before I walk away to the door. As I lower the handle, I turn one last time to her.

- Good night.

"Good night," she tells me, folding the sheet over her body.

A few hours later, the nurse, as usual, doesn't forget to knock on my door at seven o'clock in the morning. But, for the first time since my arrival, I wake up with a big smile on my face. As I opened my eyes, I immediately thought back to that night. To that kiss. I had never experienced that! This intimate moment we shared had been so intense! If there was one emotion I would like to live with for the rest of my life, it would be that one. It is so powerful... Now all I'm looking forward to is finding the girl I kissed on the beach.

I prepare quickly. I go out of my room whistling. It's been a long time since I felt so carefree, as if all the problems of my life had been eclipsed by the light that is Stella. In the hallway, I come across a few residents I greet, something I don't usually do. A side effect of happiness, perhaps?

I stop at the door of her room, but when I'm about to knock, I hear Stella's voice. She's talking to someone.

- No... that's not what I meant...

Who is she talking to?

"Steve, please, let me finish..."

I'm assuming that she's on the phone, not hearing from anyone. I have a hard time distinguishing all her words, because of the thickness of the plywood door. Steve... who is Steve? The shrill voice of a frustrated Stella pulls me from my questions.

"No, it was a bad idea! Don't tell me what to do, you sound like Ben!"

Ben? Why is she talking about Ben with him? Just the fact that she says his name makes my good mood disappear.

"Why? But I don't have to explain myself! I'm a big girl and I can make my own decisions! And I'm telling you I don't want to anymore!" I don't want to go on, you hear me?

I am more and more confused by this half-conversation. I would love to know the other half.

- No... it's not because of...

Unfortunately, I am unable to hear the end of the sentence because someone is patting my shoulder. As I turn around, I discover Freddie, looking circumspect, staring at me.

"Hey, man! What are you doing?" he asks me, frowning.

"Uh, nothing... I was waiting for Stella", I lie.

His circumspection turns into perplexity.

- Why?

He has no idea what happened between us last night. I would so like to tell him...

"I don't know", I sigh.

"It's not for lack of warning you, but this girl... she'll only get you in trouble," he insists.

I decide not to raise it. But I'm still intrigued by his opinion on Stella. What does he see in her that I do not see to be so wary? I decide not to give too much importance to his words.

"Why don't we go and have breakfast?" I suggest, as a diversion.

A childish smile appears on his face and I follow him up the stairs.

******