WhenTheCold Pounds on the door

小寒 [11] / [20]

His first impression of her was that she was such a light, frivolous flirt. But first impressions aren't always right. No, she was kind and funny, and evidently possessed of a great, yet quiet, intellect and a cool confidence that rested just beneath the surface.

Yet she was humble, and these qualities, which often breed arrogance in the weak of character, in this woman were curiously well-balanced; apparent enough to enrich her other qualities, without overpowering them. She was unlike anyone Alexander had ever met.

He stared at her for a moment, perhaps a moment too long, and finally said.

"I really don't know what to do now. I don't even really know you, and I want to get to know you gradually. The last thing I want is to jump into anything, but . . . It's like I can't help falling for you. Sorry for being so blunt. It sounds like nonsense, I know, and it probably is,"

he laughed, then continued.

"I just felt like I had to confess these feelings at the outset. If I didn't, I felt like I would never have that chance again.”

She stared back at him for a time, and, again, probably for a beat too long, but neither really noticed. Her expression was of surprise, but not in an unpleasant way. Then she smiled at him, brushed her hair from her brow with fingers and said.

"I think I know what you mean. There's something about you too that . . . I don't know, it's like I can tell you anything, and we just met! Bizarre, isn't it?"

Then the smile faded from her face.

"Listen. I want to be honest with you as well. I just got divorced a few months ago, and I'm still kind of in the process of recovering from it."

She noticed his nervous expression, as if she were about to reject him, but she smiled again, and took his hand gently, to reassure him.

"I'd love to start seeing you. Let's take it slow."

Alexander answered.

"Let's start from the beginning. My name is Alexander Gresham, as I said before. Both my parents passed away. At least I'm sure of my father. My mother? Not so much. She left my sister and me long ago. I have a sister, Kiara, who's 7 years younger than me. But I' don't fancy seeing her often. Every time we meet up, it's like we dredge up all the drama and hurt from our childhood, that's why. I had a girlfriend until few days ago, but not now. It's also a long story."