Leon was up early and at work before anyone else arrived. Mr Holmes arrived next and Leon went straight to his office.

“Well, you’re here bright and early. I guess you want to make up for lost time from yesterday. That’s good – showing real commitment, Leon.”

“Actually, I’m here early because I’m quitting. I’m starting flying school tomorrow.”

“Flying school? You can’t just quit and go off to flying school.”

“Yes, I can.” Leon held out his hand and Mr Holmes shook it. “Good luck with your life then, Mr Holmes.”

“Yes,” Mr Holmes said in a dazed voice. He was confused. You didn’t just quit a job and go off to flying school. For him, Leon could just as well had said he had learned how to time travel. Mr Holmes was still trying to get used to the idea.

Leon skipped down the stairs. He felt as light as a feather. He found Crystal setting up her table. He grabbed her hand. “Come with me!”

“Where?”

“Does it matter?”

Crystal laughed and followed him across the road, down to the beach. They walked out to the rocks and climbed up on them, watching the new morning sun on the water.

“So … I’m free. I broke up with Bothata and I quit my job. I start school tomorrow.”

“School?”

“Flying school. And it’s all because of you. You’re like a bright light; you shined down on my life and showed me all of the dark, dingy corners that needed to be cleaned up before I could begin to live. I feel amazing!”

Leon leaned forward and kissed her. Crystal turned to him and pulled his face to hers. She kissed him back. He kissed her and pulled her to him. He suddenly wanted her so badly. Not like the lust of a one-night stand, this was something much more. It was pulling him uncontrollably. It was uncomfortable but he could do nothing about it. He was learning how to accept life as it came.

“Come, I know a place,” Crystal said.

Leon followed her. They crossed the street to the high-rise flats there. They walked into one of the posh buildings and entered the elevator. On the fifteenth floor they got out. Crystal led him to the door at the end of the hall. She reached under the mat, pulled out a key and opened the door to the flat.

“Is this your place?” Leon asked unbelievingly. Inside, the entire front of the flat was a window out to a balcony overlooking the sea.

“No, not mine, but it’s okay.”

She stood and looked out at the sea as she removed her headscarf. He was surprised that underneath her head was nearly shaved. She slipped off her dress and there was nothing underneath. She lay down on the carpeted floor, and said, “Come.”

Leon was uncomfortable in all of the light. Self-conciously, he took off his clothes and tried to suck in his slightly bulging stomach. She was perfect and he was not. He tried to not pay any attention to that.

“No, don’t do that,” she said. “Be yourself. Always be yourself. Authentic and honest.”

She pulled him on top of her. Leon had never met a woman like her. She was so confident and accepting. He knew nothing at all about her and yet he felt pulled to her like no one before.

They lay together afterwards looking out at the sea.

“What is this then?” Leon needed to know. He was now in a new place, a place he’d never been to before. Everything felt so strong and important. He needed it defined.

“This is love.”

“You love me?”

“Yes, I always have. Since the first time I saw you.”

“Me? But you don’t know anything about me,” Leon said.

“What must I know to love? I love the sea, but she is a mystery to me. She tells me nothing. I love the air I breathe, and it is invisible. I love many, many things and many, many people, that’s all I need to know. Love.”

Leon knew what she was saying was not what he hoped he was hearing. “I want to know, between us, what’s going on?”

“Does it feel good?”

“Yes.”

“Then let it be that. Leon, you need to open your heart. Let it open, open it wide. That’s what this is. Helping Leon open his heart. Is that okay?”

Leon still didn’t know what she meant. All he knew was that he needed her. There was something amazing about Crystal and he needed her. Suddenly his life was changed because of her.

Whatever she had, he needed.

Tell us what you think: Do you think Leon and Crystal are thinking about love in the same way? Does this make you afraid for Leon?