After Eternity

Chapter 50

I.

A month later...

San Francisco...

It was really late, past midnight already and Diana had lit the fireplace. A strong and warm fire turned the living room quite cozy and she was laying down with two pillows under her head in front of it, reading a book. She had the curtains opened for if she looked outside, she could contemplate a dark sky where zillions of brilliant dots twinkled. The sky was so starry up on the hill, it was like a magic contest to see which star could twinkle more than the other. Outside, it was bitterly cold and humid though. The grass was sprinkled with little ice crystals that would melt with the first rays of light in the morning. The trees were chanting as gusts of wind infiltered between them, throwing leaves flying around and their branches swaying as if they were dancing.

Lights entering the living room caught her attention and she took her eyes of her poetry book and looked outside. She saw The Grinch stopping in the lane and then James getting out of it. She smiled as she saw him shudder and adjust the collars of his coat up his neck. It was a cold night, indeed. He would love the friendly and warm environment inside the house. She turned to read the final lines of the poem she was reading, and soon she heard his keys turn the lock around and the door cracking open. A thud warned her he had closed it and then she heard the keys turning to lock it again. She also heard the keys falling on the phone table near the door and a deafer sound that it was probably his wallet. Then, his steps approaching.

"Hey, babe..." He said as he entered the living room.

Diana looked back and smiled. "It's late." She told him realizing it was past midnight.

James approached her and kneeled on the blanket. "Are you feeling better?" He asked after kissing her lips.

"Yes." Diana said. " After coming back home, I had some tea and I am fine."

James looked at the fire burning. "You lit the fireplace." He told her, smiling. "It's so warm and cozy inside."

"Are you hungry?" She asked him. "There's a plate for you in the microwave." Diana had kept a plate from the dinner she had cooked: meatloaf with mashed potatoes.

He bent over her and kissed her lips again. "I'm fine. We ordered a pizza. Are you working on your thesis?" He asked, noticing the book in her hands.

"Kind of." Diana said vaguely and giggled.

"Kind of?" He ran a hand over his hair, studying her face. A soft smile delineated on his lips.

"I am more like relishing myself on Allen's Ginsberg poetry." She clarified.

"Are you really feeling better?" James insisted for he thought she was still a bit pale. His eyes examined her face attentively.

"I didn't throw up the rest of the afternoon." She assured him. "Hey... come join me." She said pulling the blanket up. "I even have two pillows for you too." She added to convince him.

"I will." He kissed her forehead and then got up. "I just need to take a shower first."

"How's the Chev?" She asked. James stopped walking and turned around.

"Cool." He smiled. "We managed to put the engine in it."

"You worked well." She told him. "When I came home the engine was still on the floor..."

"We did." James smiled. "I'll be right back." He said going away.

Diana came back to her book and finished her poem. Then, she continued to the next one, completely absorbed by Ginsberg's lunatic poetry. How she loved it. It must have taken thirty minutes for her to hear James's steps on the stairs.