4:02 AM "Can I come in for a second? I just need to use the phone." I am slightly... well, more than slightly nervous about letting him come up to my apartment, but, "Um, yeah... I guess that's OK." We get out of the car and he tells the driver he'll be right back. I live on the second floor, on the way up the stairs he asks, "So, is your roommate or whoever going to be upset about..." "Well, actually, it's my older sister, but she's probably out like a light right now so there shouldn't be a problem." I explain. I open the door and point him to the phone in the living room, telling him I'll just be in the other room for a minute. Like an idiot, I don't realize that the door isn't completely closed, and when I turn around, getting up from a little girl's bed, I see him standing in the doorway. "It's over" I think to myself. "Who's that?" he asks, as if it isn't obvious. "Claudia, yes, she's my daughter. She's two years old. Feel free to retreat now if you want." I say to him, slightly disappointed, but hey, fantasies do have to end eventually. But as I start to turn away from him, he takes hold of my arm. Slowly shaking his head "No" he leans over and kisses me again. It's a short and sweet kiss, which leads into a hug. At this moment, I just want to melt into him; I want to cry as he whispers to me "I'm not going to do that." As much as I'd love to stay there in his embrace, we do pull apart. "So, what happened to her father?" he asks. "He and I aren't on speaking terms anymore." I answer. "Oh, I'm sorry..." he begins, but I interrupt, "Don't be, I'm not. We were seventeen, I know, I know we were too young and not really in love. That's pretty obvious now, but, I don't regret having Claudia, and I'm not putting my life on hold, I've got enough people around to help me do what I have to and what I want to. Oh well, I guess you'd better go." I walk him to the door and he stops, "You're an amazing woman, and your daughter's lucky to have you for a mother." He steps into the hallway and turns to me, "I don't want to end this here. I mean, if I could keep reliving tonight, I'd..." he sighs, as if looking for the right words. "Listen, I know I can be around much, hell, I can't even be in one country for any stretch of time, but, if I could have a way to talk to you or even see you again when I am around, I... I just can't end it right now..." So, I gave him my number, and address, and e-mail even. I don't know exactly how much faith I had in him, but I'd be right to believe him. It wouldn't end there, in fact, tonight would only be the beginning.