The sun comes through the window and forces me to open my eyes to the world. Behind me there's a soft, heavy breathing. I turn around and look at Daniel sleeping. I smile at the sight. Three months ago, we were standing in the rain kissing one another on my birthday. His blonde hair has grown since then. I twirl my finger around his hair, making soft curls. I close my eyes and allow my hand to continue with the repetitive movement.

"This is becoming a habit."

I hear him say and chuckle, still with my eyes closed. I hear him shuffle in bed and can feel his hot breath near my face. He buries his face in my chest and allows me to continue caressing his hair.

"I could stay like this forever." he mumbles.

"Well, unless you want to explain to my boss why I'm late this morning..."

"I outrank him..." his voice comes through muffled. He kisses me softly on my neck, teasing me. "Or, we can call in sick..." His hands drifts towards my belly and traces small concentric circles.

I hum distractedly in response. His hand moves further south. Both our phones ring. The alarm reminds us it's time to get up. Daniel grunts in my belly and I chuckle. Daniel flexes his arms up and gives me a peck.

"Let's get up sleepy head," I say. "We can continue this later on."

He jumps off the bed. "Going to shower. Want to join me?"

I smile in response but stay still.

"Your loss!" he yells and darts to the bathroom.

I reach for my phone and put the wi-fi on. Within seconds, I see an email from Wendy. I open it and start reading it.

'Dear Natalie,

Hope all is well with you. With the end of your internship approaching, we need potential dates for my visit so you can submit your final report.  I will give you a list of everyone that I need to interview on the day of my visit.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind Regards,

Wendy'

I sit up and re-read the email. Three months ago, this wouldn't matter. But it does now. I hear the shower running and start typing a response.

'Dear Wendy,'

I stop typing. Should this be something I should talk with Daniel? What do I say? Guess what the internship is almost over and I'm not coming back?

I get up and throw the phone on the bed. I pace nervously around the room. A picture of me and Daniel on my birthday is on the other side of the bed. 

I pick up the phone and stare at the same line. I need to give her a date. My throat closes and I close my phone and run to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. I gulp the liquid down my throat and look at another picture of us on the fridge. The water makes a detour towards my lungs and I cough uncontrollably.

Daniel runs out with his towel hanging around his waist. "Hey, are you okay?"

I nod yes but continue to cough while holding the kitchen counter with one hand. Daniel takes the glass that started this trouble and pours more water.

"Here. Drink slowly."

I take the glass and take small sips while steadying my breathing.

"What happened?"

"Just went in the wrong pipe." I chuckle awkwardly.

Daniel nods and heads back to the room. "We need to get changed, Kleiner, or we will be late," he says from inside the room.

I set the glass down on the sink and close my eyes for a moment. The email lingers in my mind.

"Kleiner?" Daniel raises his voice expectantly for a response.

"Coming."

I take a deep breath and head back to the room to get ready. When I enter the bedroom, I see my birthday painting above our bed. I haven't left his house since we kissed and his painting hangs at the place I selected. The past weeks have been the best of my life and I realise I don't want to give that up.

While Daniel chooses his suit, I take my phone from the bed and go to the bathroom. I lock the door and open the tap. I open the email and start typing.

'Dear Wendy,

Good to hear from you. I'm well, thank you.

I will speak to my manager today about potential dates. I also would like to discuss with you the possibility of extending my internship and completing my year remotely.

Best wishes,

Natalie'

My heart raced a mile an hour as I dropped the phone on the end table. I focus on getting ready for work and push the email to the furthest corner of my mind. I comb my hair and style it as quickly as I can. Daniel re-enters the bedroom and approaches me, lingering a kiss on my neck.

His aftershave invades my senses, and I close my eyes and hum.

"You look beautiful." He whispers in my ear.

I hum and open my eyes again. I stare at him for a beat, undecided if I should say something.

"But we really need to go now, Kleiner." He pecks me again on the neck. "I'll treat you to breakfast when we get to the office." He puts his jacket on. "Promise."

I smile and finish getting ready. I decide to say something to him on our way to the train, but Lukas calls him and Daniel is busy with work from the moment we arrive at the station. I put my headphones on and open my little brown notebook. I immerse myself in my writing until Daniel softly pats my hand and smiles at me when we arrive to Dusseldorf.

We both walk side by side through the streets with Daniel's right hand on the phone, speaking to Lukas and his left holding mine tightly. The grey skies that foreshadow rain never looked so bright. My phone rings and I look down at my mother's name on the screen.

I show it to Daniel that gives me a quick peck on the forehead and continues walking, allowing me the space to talk to her. I slow down and open the call.

"Hey, you," she greets me.

"How are you, mom?"

"Freezing! I think it may snow this week. How is the weather there?"

"Also, pretty cold. Daniel also says it might snow again if the temperatures continue to drop like this."

"And, how is Daniel?" She says with an unbridled enthusiasm in her voice.

"He's fine, mom..." I say without being able to stop smiling.

"Hmmmm. I can see that... and when am I going to meet this man that has made my daughter fall in love head over heels?"

"Mom!" I admonish her.

My mother roars with laughter. "It's true. I've never seen you like this before."

I look at Daniel that still talks on the phone but is waiting for me outside our Blaubeermuffin cafe. The email rings in my ears.

"Mom...Wendy emailed me."

"What did she say?"

I hear a loud honk and realise my mom is talking to me while walking recklessly through the streets of London.

"Where are you?"

"Going to work. Where else?"

"Mom, don't talk to me and cycle! It's dangerous!"

I can hear the sounds of the street clearer than before.

"What is dangerous are the lunatics." She rebuts. "Now tell me, what did Wendy say?"

"We can talk later about it..." I respond.

"If I stop cycling, will you tell me?" My mother asks.

"How will I know you have stopped cycling?" I really hate when she cycles around London, but especially hate when she does it without an inch of regard for her own safety.

"Can't you tell by the absence of huffing and puffing?"

I laugh. "No, I can't tell."

"Before I forget, did you get the invitation?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, the wedding of the century invitation. Do we really need to go?"

"Considering it's my brother's daughter's wedding. Yes, we must. Buy a nice dress there. Are you bringing Daniel?" She claps enthusiastically.

At least I have the confirmation that she's definitely not cycling.

"Mom... We just started dating..." I stop and remind myself of the dratted email. 

"Okay, I've stalled long enough, but clearly, this is big. What exactly did Wendy say to you in the email?"

"Only that she's coming for my report."

"That's it?" My mother raises her voice indignantly. "And you're all upset about it. Why?" And in a split second, I hear. "Oh... because it means you will return home..." she replies to her own question. "That's what has got you upset, isn't it?"

"Yes..." I blurt out. "We are just starting something and now I'm going to go back... Anyway, I've asked Wendy about extending the internship and finishing the year remotely..."

"What?" My mother's voice denoted an angry tone. "You're not doing such a thing!"

"Why not?" I raise my voice.

"Because that is not what you planned. This internship will get you to stand out from the crowd and get you the job you wanted in publishing."

"Plans change..."

"No. That's not happening. You are going to finish your internship and get back home."

"You can't make me do something I don't want to!"

"You listen to me, missy. You may be an adult, but you're still my daughter. I know how much you care for this boy, but you will not put your dreams behind because of him. I won't allow it."

"I can't believe you right now! If this was Harry, you wouldn't be giving me such a hard time!"

"If it was Harry, you wouldn't be so stupid! This is the end of this conversation!"

"Oh, my god! Why did I even say anything to you!"

"You better write back to Wendy and change your story, or I will. This will not happen. I will not let you throw away your dreams for a boy."

"I'm going to lose him!"

"You will only lose what you never had to begin with. And your future is not something it's worth risking. I know you hate me right now, but I know what is best for you, and if he loves you, he will do the same."

I look up at Daniel and see his face contorted. He is also speaking angrily on the phone. Did his conversation with Lukas take a turn for the worse?

"Natalie?" my mother's voice echoes in the receiver.

"I need to go now."

"This conversation is not over." she admonishes me.

"Fine. I need to get to work now. Bye." And I hang up.

I feel my blood boiling at the words exchanged. I feel more confident with my resolution to stay back than ever before. Until I look at him. His face tells a different story. I approach him and he also rushes the other person on the other side of the phone before hanging up.

Daniel stares at me with hurt in his eyes.

"Is everything okay?"

"We need to talk."