NIGHTMARE

The cab ride back allowed me to see the city, something I failed to notice as I was on my long walk earlier that evening. I guess my mind was on my 'getting back in control' mode, and all I focused on was that, failing to see the lights, the streets, the entire city, as I was now experiencing. I finally got home, only to see the long stairway that let up to my apartment I had to climb. Just looking at it made me tired. I was exhausted from my long walk, and the tension and excitement from seeing Dan. When my climb was finally completed, I could barley see straight. All I could do was to get undressed and hit my bed as fast as I could.

I got back up to lock my door, something I don't usually do. As I walked back to my bedroom, I heard a noise, a voice, something that was strange. I continued to my room, and figured the noise was coming from the t.v. I left on before I left and still hadn't turned it off. I didn't want to get up again so I lay there, mesmerized on how wonderful it was to have sex with Dan, even if it was in his hospital bed. It excited me, thinking where it happened, and was hoping he was thinking of me, but knew he must be fast asleep by now.

Instead of sleeping, again my mind was racing with thoughts of Dan. So I hid my head under the covers and told myself to go to sleep. Then hours later, I woke up in a sweat, not knowing where I was. I had a dream about Dan, but it was a horrible dream, a nightmare, as I saw him screaming in pain, bleeding, with a distorted face. There was blood on the top of his head, and all I did in the dream was to ask him to leave. How horrible.

I needed to stop all this drama, it wasn't healthy, and I hadn't had any visitors in over three days, if not more. Dan still hadn't explained to me how or why he got attacked, and I didn't explain anything to him about myself. The dream scared me, and was in a terrible mood to say the least. I walked in the kitchen to get something to drink, then went to my living room and sat on my couch. I started to cry. Again, what the hell was happening to me? I wanted to hear secrets my visitors would tell me. I missed hearing them. They excited me, even as dreadful as most of them were. Strange huh? I was afraid to go back to sleep, afraid I would have this horrible nightmare again.

I needed the sleep, so I got myself up off my pity couch, and went back to bed. I didn't wake up until the morning, or should I say the early part of the afternoon. My first thought of the day was about Dan, but I was beginning to convince myself that this was ridiculous, a bad idea, and I needed to straighten myself out. Enough! I wanted to see him again, but wouldn't and if he wanted to talk to me, he could call me, and that was that.

Then someone knocked, and I simply opened the door and let him in. We hopped into our usual play, and then my visitor told me a secret that even I was a little taken back with. He said he had been up all night, and saw two men in a fight near a bar not too far away from here. He saw a police car pull up, and when they arrived, instead of the cops helping the man who was beaten, the cops started to beat him as well. It turned out that the man who was being beaten up had slept with one of the cops wife, who within a short amount of time, arrived on the scene as well. The first man who had been in the fight was drunk, but later it was learned that he was an off duty policeman who knew what this guy did, and wanted to defend his friend.

I was sick to hear about all this violence, and pictured Dan in the same situation, getting stabbed, and beaten, so I asked him to stop. He said the last part was the worst part yet, and I didn't know if I wanted him to continue. He finished his story anyway, with the cops wife being taken against her will, as she was driven out there to the scene. The 'cheated on' cop didn't stop shouting out at her, asking her, 'Is this the pig who fucked you, huh, is he? At first she was saying no, but finally gave in and said yes. My visitor assumed that if she told the truth he would let her get back in the car, but that wouldn't be her fate.

I missed hearing secrets, but this one got to me. I guess you need to be careful of what you wish for. The woman's husband, the cop, stripped all her clothes off in front of the other cops, and made her have sex with the beaten man. It was difficult but it actually happened, and even my visitor was left stunned. I asked him how he saw all this without getting caught and he said he had been up to a buddies apt. on the 4th floor that faced the back alley of the bar where it took place. I told him he was lucky they didn't look up, but then they were too busy beating the shit out of this guy, and then making a woman have sex with her bloody lover as well. What an evening! Maybe it beats my phantom evening, or even having a man in the middle of my apartment practically bleeding to death!

I thought about my life, and all that happened within just a few days. I called off any contact with Dan, at least on my part. I didn't know what I would do if he called me or tried to come back over. I then figured he would get better and go back to wherever he was from, have a good memory of doing him on his hospital bed which I'm sure the nurses would have something to talk about for a while, other then discussing sticking suppositories up someone ass.

Ok, ok, enough. My visitor left, making me promise not to tell anyone about what he had witnessed, and I told him he would be crazy if he thought I would repeat any of this. His secret was safe with me. I shouldn't have been shocked, but I was when I heard about the incident on the news later in the day. Just then the phone rang, and it was Dan.

My lights were dim in my living room, and it almost looked like it was nigh time, but it was only 3:00. He asked me how I was doing, but the question was, how was he doing? He said he felt better, especially since my visit with him from the night before, and asked me if I would come back to see him again. I told him no, that I was busy, and that I hoped his wounds would heal quickly. He took that as a goodbye, but told him that it wasn't what I was saying. I was just busy, and to call me tomorrow if he'd like. He almost pleaded with me to come see him again, assuming he wanted another romp in his bed, but told me that wasn't what he wanted. I told him maybe, and ended our phone conversation very pleasantly, with a phone kiss and a soft goodbye.

There, I was proud of myself, taking control and calling the shots. I did want to see him, but knew it was better not to. I needed to get out of my apartment, but not until I took a long hot shower. I didn't tell him about my nightmare, as that would have been a horrible thing to say to a wounded man layed up in a hospital bed.

I sat there, pondering over my decision, now regretting telling him I couldn't go, but then I could always change my mind. I didn't. For now, I just wanted to hear more secrets, dispite the last one that annoyed me more then anything. I don't know why it did, but it did. After all, I had heard worse, and now thought I was maybe one sick bitch.

....NO, I WON'T GO BACK TO SEE HIM...

As I got back to my apartment, I ran into Mike, my neighbor from downstairs. We chatted for a second, then told him I had to go. Too many thoughts in my head, and I didn't like that. Who was he, and why in the world would Dan land in my apartment of all apartments? Because he saw the door slightly opened, or the light was on? Is that what he told me?

As I was getting undressed, someone came in, and I wasn't in the mood to talk or deal with anyone, so I told him to leave. Maybe I could have been nicer about it but with too much happening so quickly, and not understanding what was happening to me as of lately, I wasn't in the mood to watch my p's and q's with anyone. I put up my hand to wave him away and on he went.

So now I'm thinking that I'm in control all the time. Then I have some crazy ass dream that flips me the hell out, not knowing if I'm coming or going anymore, and then I have a bloody guy standing in the middle of my apartment dripping blood all over the place. How's that for a week? How would you feel if something like this happened to YOU? Feeling a little out of control was to say the least.

It's sad, as I now had no intentions of going back to the hospital to visit this screwed up mess! Or should I? No, I won't. I'm too tired to even move. I'm going to bed and maybe my phantom lover will drop by and give me another ride of my life that I can certainly use right now, yeah, wishful thinking! So I lay down and toss and turn before I finally go to sleep.

Two hours pass, and I'm waking up in a fog. I still lye there, analyzing why the shit is hitting the fan. Hmm, could it be because I didn't help my little brother do his homework when my mother asked me to, or was it because I skipped school to hang out and smoke at the mall with my girlfriends, and meet boys, or was it because at 16 I fucked my sexy 36 year old neighbor whose wife was a prissy rich blonde with an attitude as big as New Jersey? I remembered how she would boss him around, while giving me dirty looks. This guy was sexy, super hot with a ripped bod that could get it up and keep it up all night long. I wonder if she ever found out about us? Anyway, she deserved it.

No, that isn't why. You know, the last thing that Dan told me as I was leaving his hospital room was to lock my door when I got home. That was nice. I locked my door after I got up and decided to watch some t.v. Nothing exciting was on, so I started to read a book. Was I really losing my mind? I hadn't read a book in years, but now it seemed like the thing to do. No it wasn't, it was a stupid thing to do. After starring at the wall for too long, I decided to go outside for a nice long walk.

I needed to come down from all this, and the first thing to do was to get back in control. So I walked and walked, and I didn't know but before I realized it, it was hours of walking that I had no idea of how long I was walking. And then as I'm looking up at a certain building, it was the hospital. The hospital where Dan was in. It certainly was after visiting hours, but I couldn't help myself, and I went in. I figured they would throw me out, or at least inquire why I was there. I thought of saying I just wanted to get something at the gift shop for a patient and bring it to him tomorrow, but so far no one saw me. I saw the elevator light going down, and when it reached the ground floor, I hopped right in! No one was on it.

I knew now if I could only see him but for just a few moments, it would be ok. The elevator door opened, and the entire nurses station with at least 4 nurses were standing right there. I would be bold and just walk to his room, when all of a sudden, a nurse called out to me and asked where I was going. I hadn't seen her earlier, so I quickly said I was Dan's sister and that I was leaving in the morning and couldn't come earlier to visit. She seemed to hesitate, as my feet started taking me closer to his room. She said ok but that I couldn't stay long, and I thanked her.

I finally reached Dan's room, as it seemed to be the longest walk I've ever taken. I was hoping he would be alone in his room, and as I approached it, he was. At first I just stood there, as I slowly closed the door behind me. I was glad to see that no one was sharing the room with him, as it would have been unlikely to have given him a private room. He saw me. His face seemed to brighten up and asked how I got in, knowing it was past visiting hours. I told him 'I knew people', and he laughed with pain. He asked me to come closer. I did. I asked him how he was feeling and he told me he felt like hell.

I noticed all the wires they had on him, one to monitor his breathing, and others I couldn't begin to explain. He told me how happy he was to see me and that he didn't think I was coming once it passed 8:00. I told him I wouldn't miss seeing him, but had slept through my nap. He was shocked when I told him I walked all the way. He couldn't believe I walked. I couldn't believe it either. He reached out for my hand, and when I reached out to hold his, he yanked me towards him to give me a hug. He felt so good. For someone with stab wounds, he didn't look half bad. I didn't move. I kept my head on his chest, and his hand stroked the back of my head.

I heard footsteps walking towards the room, when they pasted us by. His chest was so sexy, yet only covered to his waist. My hand rested gently on his wounded belly. The room was dark, with only light coming from the street light outside his window. It gave off a golden cast, and it seemed as if we could have been in my apartment instead of a hospital room.

He then caressed my head a little harder, yet gently, and I looked up at his handsome face when he kissed me. I touched his face, then his hair, and told him he looked pretty good for a guy who just went through the ringer. As I moved my hand away and onto his shoulder, he said that felt so very good. I then rubbed his chest and looked into his eyes. My body was already wet with desire, and I ran over to the door to lock it. I wouldn't care if anyone knocked. I reached over to his bed sheets and yanked them off him. His lean ripped body made me more wet with anxiousness. I took my capri's off, carefully got on his bed and straddled him. I felt every muscle in his body move. I kissed his lips, and he kissed me back with a fury. He was shaking, and so was I. What if a nurse was to knock this very minute? What if security would try to come in?

His erect penis slid into me, and I then ripped off my blouse. We moved together in motion, first slowly, then more vigorously while his hands fondled my breasts, and leaning over to kiss my body. He would lift me up and place me closer with his hands around my waist, feeling my stomach and clutching onto my hips. He moaned both with pleasure and pain during thrusts and he came quickly. Before I was to get off the bed, I looked deeply into his eyes. No words, just a deep look. He cradled my face and told me he wanted more. Then, someone was trying to come in. I got to the door in time struggling to put my clothes back on, and opened it.

The nurse knew immediatley I wasn't his sister, and asked me to leave as visiting hours were way past over. She indicated that the door should never be locked as that was against hospital policy. I felt like telling her to 'policy this', but cordially agreed. I went over to Dan and kissed him goodbye. He kissed me back. He told me to take a cab home and he wanted me to reasure him that I would. She was still standing there when he told her I was leaving. Please, he asked me, please come see me tomorrow, please, I need you, he told me. I told him I would. I kissed him gently on the lips again and said goodnight.

When I got downstairs, I called a cab. I was soon home.

DO I RETURN?

So I lay on my floor, thinking of what the next day will bring for my wounded intruder. He seemed like he wanted to tell me what happened, and I was willing to listen. So here I am, on my floor, thinking of the story he's about to tell, when I hear a moan coming from my bedroom. It's Dan, needing help to get up.

As I enter the room, he's crouching in the corner of the floor, moaning in pain. I get him back into bed, and tell him he's going to the hospital or he can die. I don't give him an ultimatum, and he finally does as I say.

I help him get dressed with clothes that I had from a previous boyfriend. They weren't the perfect fit, but it was better then nothing. I called a cab, and it arrives sooner than I think. I slowly help him up, clutching onto his waist and chest. As Dan is in horrible pain, I yet can't help but notice his muscular body. His pain is getting worse, only for his wounds to open up again and start bleeding. We get in the cab, and as we're on our way, the cab driver doesn't stop asking questions. I told him if he didn't shut up, he wouldn't get a nice fat tip. Suddenly not another word came out of his mouth.

I got help from the emergency room to help Dan out of the cab, and they immediately put him on a gurney. My mind now is racing with thoughts of what he's going to tell the doctors, and I don't even try to give him advice. I'm allowed to follow the interns and nurses, and they take him into an examining room to attend to his wounds. As they strip off his clothes, he's lying there naked, as they attempt to stop the blood coming out of his chest and belly. I could just stand there and watch, feeling his pain as they begin sewing him up.

They begin to ask him the obvious questions, and he goes into a rant that doesn't make sense. Then they start asking me the same questions, only to let them know the truth. That he appeared at my front door, and all I did was to come to his aide. No more, no less. They tell me he has to stay over night, and as they leave, I see his stitched up body, as he looked so alone and helpless. Maybe it was me that felt so alone, so helpless.


I stayed with him in his room for a while longer, as I needed to get back to my apartment. So now what? Do I leave him there? He had to have relatives, friends, someone that would help him. I told him I would see him later, and to call me if he wanted to talk before I returned. But would I come back?

THE BLOODY MORNING AFTER

Hey, didn't I tell you this was going to be fun? See, you came inside apt. 9, and already you've been involved in knowing some top notch secrets, went on a wild ride of my dream about a phantom lover, and now my bloody intruder.

Early in the morning, I woke up to Dan Martin, the man covered in blood. He was looking at me, as I lay there nude, gently moving my arm to wake me. He startled me at first, even with his soft nudge. It's not as if he was starring at my body, but looking at me to notify me that he was 'up'. I immediately threw the sheets over me, as he asked me if he could have something to eat. What did he think this was, a restaurant? I told him he could but he would have to leave right after.

He was in the kitchen, making way too much noise, which led me in there to hasten things up. After draping a sheet around myself, I entered into the kitchen and made some coffee. I asked him how he was doing. He helped himself onto a chair, but soon fell right off, answering my question.

I cradled his head, asking if he was alright, and got a faint yes. I helped him back up, yet knowing he wouldn't be able to sit upright on a chair, and wondered how he got up in the first place to wake me up. I helped him into bed, making his torture a little more bearable. His blood stained shirt was gross, so I undressed him, shirt and his pants as well. Dan had a wonderful body. I covered him up, and brought him something to eat.




I had to find out what had happened to him as he tried to tell me. He was moaning with pain. I asked him if he wanted to go the emergency room, and he said no. His cuts were deep and he needed stitches. I was afraid they would open and bleed again. His chest was cut as well.

In my own dark little world of apt.9, where stories are told, and secrets are kept. Where fantasies are acted out within these walls of secrecy, where everything is good for a short time, and then it ends in the reality we know as life. It's a path I've chosen, with no one to blame but myself. I take risks everyday. Will someone kill me? Apart from all the craziness of my life in apt. 9, maybe I will be the one doing a good deed today and 'save' this man from his pain and agony.

As my inner sense wanted to help him, it was best he be on his way, figuring out his own problem, and a major problem it was. As he was trying to find the words to speak, he told me he came into my apartment only because my door had been slightly opened, and took a chance coming in. Gee, lucky me. As much as I wanted him to leave, he was physically not able to, so I either throw him out, or let him stay.

If I let him stay, it would only be for a short time.

MY BLOODY VISITOR

Last night was a long night for me. I couldn't get it out of my head, hearing and then seeing my phantom again from the night before. I didn't know if I was going crazy.

This particular evening wasn't about my 'phantom' lover. It was about midnight when I heard my door open. As I went to see who was coming in, there I see standing in front of me, a man bleeding all over himself. Blood was everywhere. He had this look on his face of bewilderment, and needing help in the worse way, beyond what I could offer him. My first thoughts were why was he standing in my apartment? What led him into apt. 9? This guy needed an ambulance. I was in shock seeing him standing there like that, and not knowing who he was or why he was there. I told him to immediately leave. I didn't want any part of this. He practically begged me for help, at least to wash some of the blood away, but it was more then just attending to his wounds that he needed help with, as I would learn latter.

I lead him into my bathroom, pushing him towards the sink, while cool water flowed out of the faucet. He was holding his right wrist with his left hand, holding it under the water, shaking uncontrollably. The sink was a maze of bright red swirls, with even more blood pouring out of his wrist. That wasn't the only wound this guy had. As I looked at him, the front of his shirt was covered with fresh blood. My hands were suddenly covered in this red mess, and then all of a sudden, I threw a towel over his arms, and demanded that he leave.

As he attempted to leave the bathroom, he hesitated, then fell to the floor. Did he die, did he faint? Shit, what the hell am I going to do now? I didn't want to call the police, after all, they might think I know him and link me to this man whom I don't even know.




I kneeled down close enough to see that he was still breathing. All I could do at first was to get him out of the bathroom, so I dragged him as best as I could into the hallway. At least he would be out of sight from the front door. If anyone would attempt to come in, they wouldn't see him.

I wrapped his bleeding wrist with more towels, hoping the blood would stop gushing out. That's all I needed, the police to find a dead man in my apartment. Within minutes, he came to, but still very groggy and not too coherent. He continuously kept on saying he was ok, but it was obvious he wasn't. I told him I was calling an ambulance and he insisted I shouldn't call anyone. Then I told him he could die, and that I didn't want him to die in my apartment. He told me not to worry, but worrying was first on my list that I was doing at that very moment.

I have enough drama happening in apt 9, and I certainly didn't need this. His dark hurting eyes begged me again, begging that he could stay in my hallway for few more minutes. I said yes. I brought him water to drink, and after a sip or two, he poured the rest on his head. I slumped onto the floor next to him, just looking at this poor creature, wondering what had led to this.

As I sat there, I could see his face was handsome, under all that sweat and blood. The blood from his body got onto to his face, and he was quite the mess. I went to get more water, and gently stroked his face with it, clearing away some of the blood from his forehead and cheeks. He breathed a sigh of relief.

I asked him if he was still bleeding, and he said he didn't think so. He began to gently undo the towels that were wrapped around his wrist, with relief that the bleeding had finally stopped. Thank God. I too was relieved with the hope that now this stranger would leave.

As I asked him his name, he started to go into a slow sleep, trying to keep his eyes open. Just as I asked him again, he was out. Asleep in my hallway. Great. Now what? Do I wake him? Do I let him stay there? The lights were dim, and all I could do for that very moment was to think of my next move. But what would it be? Here I am, sitting down in my hallway with a stranger full of blood. And now he's sleeping.

Ah, someone help me!

Help was never on it's way for me, as I was always my own help, and this was no exception. Within minutes, this handsome bloody stranger would move his head back and forth, coming to, only to fall back into unconsciousness. This time, I woke him, telling him he couldn't stay here, and that he needed to leave. He didn't hear me. I left the dim red light on. I felt helpless. I walked into the living room, pacing back and forth, only to get into bed and hope by the time I wake up, the stranger on my floor would be gone.

I pondered this event of horror as I lay in bed. I lay there still and in deep thought. I didn't move. I felt as if I was in a morgue and not on my soft comfortable bed. I wondered why he had tried to commit suicide. After all, his wrist was cut, and cut very deeply. Please let him leave. He has to leave. What if someone sees him. Ok, I'll make him leave, and as these thoughts entered my mind, I too finally fell asleep.

DARKNESS

After my very disturbing dream, it left me dazed. Even the day after, I was just walking around my apartment, wondering why it even happened. It seemed too real for it to be just a dream. But I guess it was. Just a dream.


I love looking out from my window, and on this particular night, there was a full moon. I was alone, and it was just me and the heavens above. I had wanted my dream to reocurr, like wanting your man to come back home to you, but it was more like a phantom, and I needed to deal with this. So I gazed out, and in my aloneness, I came to gripps of what I was, and all the secrets I had hidden within me. And my dream.


The darkness surrounded me, and it was total solidarity. I loved it. Anyone could be walking in now for all I knew, but I would continue in the darkness, and not let anyone disrupt it. The light from my bedroom window cast a blue haze on my unmade bed.

....Just as these thoughts passed through my mind, a man came in, unannounced, saying my name. I turned around, and I could hardly see him. After all, it was dark, and the twilight of the night was captivating. I too said hello, then turned around again, hoping he would leave. I was just about to ask him so, when that haunting voice reminded me of someone. He said softly, it's me, I'm your new neighbor above you. I just moved in. At first I didn't care what he said, so I took his announcement without great notice. Then I suddenly froze.

There wasn't an apartment above me. There weren't any apartments above me.

I looked around hoping to see him, and I knew who he was, that I would run into his arms, wanting him in my bed, wanting him to want me, when all I could see was nothing standing there.

I ran down my apartment building, hoping to see where he went to. Maybe I could see him downstairs, if only I could get there in time. No one was there, as if he had vanished into thin air.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, DIRTY LITTLE LIES

Mike finally left. I wonder if he enjoyed hearing about my dream. He's my neighbor from downstairs. Now it's your turn to talk with me. I'd love having you over.

Do you have dirty little secrets? Do you ever tell lies? If so, why don't you tell me what they are. I have a lot of secrets, and their all dirty. Some are scary, and some just horrible. I've told a lot of lies, after all, I'm a liar. Sometimes I have to be.

Where do you live? I live in New Orleans, in an old 1930's brick apartment building in the French Quarters. It has a beautiful court yard where I sometimes go out and sit. I like living in my apartment building. No one bothers you there. I'm in apartment 9 nine, but I'm sure you know that by now.

What do you do?

Would you like to know what I do? I do a lot of things. A lot goes on in apartment 9 nine, but do you know what it is?

There's times you can walk into my apartment and catch me sitting in the dark. Sometimes I just sit there, thinking of the things I do. And then I think of doing what I do even better. What lie will I tell my next visitor, what secret will he tell me? Will I hold it against him? Will it be safe with me? I'm good at keeping secrets. Secrets are a part of my life. I live in one big secret. But that's ok, I'm used to it.

One time a visitor told me he killed his wife. I thought he was kidding to get some extra attention, but he went into such graphic detail's, that I couldn't help but believe him. Was I nervous? A little. Did I turn him in? Hell no! I told you, I'm good at keeping secrets.

Another visitor told me that he didn't have a penis. Of course I had to see this for myself, and guess what? You give up? Well it was true, he didn't! Nasty sight!

Someone once told me they had robbed a bank and got away with it. But it got botched up, ending with the death of a security guard. He told me he shot him dead.

A man told me that his ill wife needed her medication while going into some kind of epileptic censurer, and purposely didn't give her the pills that could have saved her. As he watched her struggling to reach for her pills, he stood there, not doing a thing to help. He said she looked at him in amazement, knowing he wasn't coming to her aide. He watched her die right in front of him. He inherited everything she had.

This is my apartment before I moved in. The doors were painted a soft pink color. I like pink, so for the most part, I kept it the same way. This is one of the rooms where I hear a lot of secrets my visitors tell me.

So, when are you going to tell me one of your secret's? I'd love to hear them.

WAS MY DREAM REAL OR WAS I DREAMING?

Well, that was some ride, now wasn't it? Hey, did you keep up with me there? Would you like another drink? Your name is Mike? You know that was an unbelievable dream, wasn't it? When I woke up, I didn't know if I was coming or going. I mean, some dreams make you stay in a crazy kind of mood.


When I woke up from it, I just walked over to my window and gazed out.

I was in a somber mood, and I felt tired from it. What do you think Mike, do you think I'm crazy? But it was just so real, it FELT so real, like having the most amazing sex I had ever had. If I were to possibly describe what I felt, there aren't any words to really describe it. Describing it wouldn't do it justice.

NO NEED TO KNOCK

I was in a deep sleep, when a visitor had let himself into my apartment. I was awaken when he slowly slid into my bed. I felt a warm yet strange presence, and he immediately entangled his legs onto mine. His warm body that now lay next to me was strong and inviting. At first I just wanted to sleep. As I was wondering who my unexpected visitor was, his presence felt familiar, but I couldn't quite see him clear enough. I was still in a daze, too sleepy to care. I rolled onto my side to go back to sleep, but he wouldn't have it.

His voice was haunting. His touch was unbelievable. His breathe was sweet, and I was enchanted like never before. He kept feeling my skin, softly stroking me with an open palm up and down my body. He was over me, gazing into my eyes, speaking in a soft voice, yet loud enough that I should have heard him, with moments too faint to hear. His hand was now exploring me. As one arm pushed his way on top of me, I could see his face, his odd yet enchanting face.

His body was incredibly strong, his muscular body was all over me, and all I could do was to listen to his every whim. I thought I was going in and out of a sleep of some sort, still in a daze, not truly knowing if I was sleeping or dreaming. His lips devoured me, tantalizing every entrance on my body, clutching on to me, then yanking me closer to him, entering me with a calmness of ease, then thrusting me with almost a violent fervor that was exhausting, exhilarating, and frightening. My entire body was quivering. I couldn't breath. I was gasping for air, as I was holding on to him for dear life. He then pulled me even closer to him, allowing deeper penetration. It never stopped.

Suddenly I was caught up in total darkness. Every muscle in my body was aching, screaming out with ecstasy I can't begin to describe. Our bodies saturated in sweat and entwined in sensual clutches, not wanting to let go.

Then, just like that, it stopped. I was breathing so heavily, I needed to gain my composure, and just lie there for a moment to focus. I felt I was floating, as if I had been lifted to another place. The euphoria kept me in a daze, and I wanted to reach out to him, to see his naked body, to see his face, to see who my intruder was. As I reached for him,..

No one was there.

I leaned up on my bed, looking around my room, not knowing what was going on. The strange feeling that suddenly engulfed me was overwhelming. I got up, thinking my strange and mysterious lover was somewhere in my apartment, still close, but where? I was now in a state of solitude, and bewilderment.

What had just happened to me? All I could do was to lean on my bed again, confused with despair of not knowing what had happened. Still wet from his body, I covered my face in my pillow. Who was he, I kept asking myself, and how did he know where I lived? Who told him about me? Damn it, who was this man? Where did he come from?

My nude body was now cold, and yearning for his touch to make me warm. I needed him. I felt lost. His abrupt absence made me long for him all the more, to touch him, to engulf myself in him. While I lye on my bed, my eyes felt heavy, and this strange trance like slumber came over me. Within minutes, I feel asleep.

NO NEED TO KNOCK

.....there, I'm back. Sorry, I was a little longer then I thought. My visitor insisted on staying a bit longer. Now it's just you and me. I'd like to talk to you. Why don't you tell me your name.

You know, I had a dream the other night. That night I was alone and getting ready to go to sleep. As I lay in bed, I began looking up at the ceiling and I started seeing faces that were formed from the stucco above me. And then as I continued to gaze, the face started to lead downward with lines and curves, forming a body. It's like it started to come alive. I could almost see movement. The more I looked at it, it began looking back at me, and then I couldn't look anymore. I was getting sleepy, almost drowsy and could barley look up as my eyes were slowly closing. But I had to look up one more time. And then suddenly it .....Oh wait, ..someone is walking into my apartment.....please wait for me, ok? I'll try to not be too long.

Oh wow, yeah, someone came in again. Sorry about that, do I look ok, is my hair alright? Do I look like a mess? How long were you waiting, about a half hour? Sorry.

Ah yes, my dream. Hey, why don't you just come inside my apartment instead of talking out here in the hallway. Don't be shy. I don't bite. I think you'll like what I've done to the place.

See, it's not so bad. Why don't you sit down. Would you like something to drink?

And suddenly, it was coming closer to me. The face on my ceiling. It was terribly strange. It now had shape, a form like a body of some sort, and the face was staring at me with different expressions. I was frightened and I wanted go to sleep, but I couldn't. Then my eyes felt heavy again, I finally dosed off.

NO NEED TO KNOCK

Welcome to my apartment. I live in apt. 9. There's no need to knock. If you'd like to come in, just come in. I've had a lot of guest's. I guess you can say I'm a popular girl, but I will treat you as if you were my first visitor. Sit down, and make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink? Good. Feeling more at ease now? Good.

My name is Ava, what's yours? I would like to talk more, but I have someone waiting for me in my apartment, and it would be rude if I ignored my guest. Please return, I won't be long.