When I opened the door of my apartment and saw your beautiful face, I thought I might die of happiness.

Those few scant hours we spent together were the most passionate I have ever experienced, my love. The whole night, my heart was racing—our mouths, our bodies, were one. My blood trilled in my veins.

When I woke this morning, the sea-scent of your kisses still lingered on my skin, the sheets still exhaled the vanilla of your perfume, but you were gone. I could have wept. I had wanted to wake up in your arms, to fuse my body with yours once more, to feel our breath mingle, to hear the passion in your voice. I wanted your soft tongue to once again explore every inch of my body.

I wish that it would never end, that I could forever remain drunk on your desire, your kisses, your caresses.

I love you,

Alexis

December 8

My darling Vinca,

Today, you have held sway over my every thought. Today, everything I have done has been a pretense: teaching classes, talking to colleagues, feigning interest in a play performed by my students…I went through the motions, but my mind was utterly consumed by tender, febrile memories of our last night together.

By noon, I could not bear it any longer. I had to sneak off between classes to smoke a cigarette on the staff-room terrace, and it was here that I saw you from afar, sitting on a bench, chatting to your friends. When you noticed me, the little wave you gave me warmed my poor heart. Whenever I see you, my whole being quivers and the world around you melts away. At one point, I almost threw caution to the wind and walked over to take you in my arms so everyone might see my love blaze. But we must keep our secret a little longer. Fortunately, freedom is at hand. Soon we will be able to break these bonds. You have chased away the shadows that loomed over me, Vinca. You have given me faith in a radiant future. My every kiss is eternal. My tongue, when it touches your skin, brands you with my incandescent love and marks out the borders of a new world, a lush, fertile land of freedom where soon we will raise our own family. Our child will seal our twin fates forever. Our child will be blessed with your angelic smile, your silvery eyes.

I love you,

Alexis

4.