Jess looked up at the night sky so full of stars and wondered how far Nik was. Loneliness tugged at her heart. Why did he have to go away now when she needed him by her side? She wanted to hate him for going away, for leaving her alone with her thoughts in the forlorn house. She reached for the glass by her chair. The cold water made her shiver. She needed a shawl, but was reluctant to call for the girl; to break the spell of the night. Wrapping herself in a hug, she reached out for Nik in her heart and wept silently.

Nik drove through the starlit night. He knew Jess was crying for him. He hoped to be back by dusk. The maid was waiting for him at the door. Nik smelt death before he saw the old man. The maid was crying. The poodle sat gloomily next to her master. Nik called the hospital, and waited.

The horizon was turning pink when Nik reached home. Jess woke in the armchair. The dog snuggled up to her. Nik picked her up in his arms and carried her in, the poodle bouncing happily behind them.

© 2008 Anindita Bhadra. Original for CCF. (Bhadra grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).