She seemed to realize what she said moments after it slipped from her lips, then she recoiled, embarrassed. I didn’t mind. “I asked my father the day I met you. He said I should stay away, but I couldn’t. I’m drawn to you, Patrick. I don’t understand it, but I am.”

I could feel some of the tension in my body release as she said that, and I felt a warm trickle of relief flood my face. “I feel the same way… what is your name?”

She brushed the hair out of her face and her eyes caught the light as it was going behind the trees. She glowed and my heart nearly stopped. “Jessica,” she said, as though entrusting me with a precious secret. “My name is Jessica.”

I felt a little bit of air release in a gasp and I moved toward her. She didn’t move away, but watched wordlessly as I took her face in my hands and kissed her forehead, then I moved my lips into her hair and kissed her head. I buried my face in her hair and kissed her ears, and her neck. She gasped a little bit.

I drew back and looked into her eyes…