Benj had caught me in the act of snooping through his personal belongings. I felt a sense of embarrassment sweep over me. I tried to pick up the ancient book as quickly as I could but Benj had already clasped the papers tightly in his hands. There was a moment of silence between us before I blurted out how sorry I was for looking through his pod. Benj seemed to have an unfamiliar look on his face and now I felt really guilty. He quickly smiled and led me to the kitchen.

In my head I felt like such a fool. I had finally found a man who was intriguing, romantic and genuinely interesting and I think I just blew everything just to read an ancient book that wasn’t even mine. Benj had set up a candle lit dinner in the kitchen, this all seemed so perfect, and now the atmosphere was undeniably tense.

I poured myself a rather tall glass of wine as the ancient book flew in and out of my mind.

Underneath all my embarrassment I wondered if it was really a good idea to ask about this ancient book. I wondered to myself if Benj knew what an ancient book was because nowadays people were so indulged in their holograms and futuristic calling, that to mention an ancient book seemed bizarre. I had so many questions that were eager to escape my mouth but they did seem a little invasive and I didn’t want to seem intrusive.

Benj and I sat directly opposite each other and for some reason the look in his eyes made me feel rather shy. He began the conversation.

“Storm, do you know what a journal is?”

Benj began to explain to me exactly what a journal was. He described it as a bunch of papers that are used to document events within your life. Benj described the journal as something that never has an end and could hold life’s finest moments as well as life’s secrets. He stopped there smiled at me and began to dish up the food.

I wondered if it was a good time to ask what exactly Benj had written in this so called journal. Benj seemed rather edgy and I couldn’t wrap my mind around how apprehensive he seemed.

Finally braving the question I asked, “What did this journal really contain?” I noticed how this question made Benjamin’s body tense up.

I had a million and one things going through my head, he wasn’t giving me any answers and seemed extremely secretive. Maybe the journal contained Benjamin’s deepest darkest secrets from his past that he wanted to bury and I had just brought him back to those dark days.

Before I could rationalise my thought it tumbled out of my big mouth. I had saved the biggest question for last.

“Would it be OK if I read the journal after dinner or would you be willing to read the journal to me?”

Benjamin seemed to choke a little on this Alfredo and took a huge gulp of his wine.

Benjamin had never made me feel unsure of myself when I was around him but I was starting to get frustrated with him. I wished he would just blurt everything out and let me in. I was frustrated that he was holding back. Why couldn’t we just jump in full force and connect in the way I had imagined? I thought I was figuring out Benjamin and now this journal had turned everything I had imagined upside down.

The night had come to an end and Benj had still not revealed anything about this journal. I felt a sense of frustration and rejection. The streets were dark and the street lights seemed to beam more unusually. I had always walked the same way home from Benj’s and my mind started to wonder. Suddenly somebody grabbed me from behind and I felt a strong grip cover my mouth…

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think will happen next? Who do you think grabbed Storm?