“Can’t sleep?”
Amora’s voice startled me. “No. You?”
“I can’t sleep too. Maybe we could sit on the couch and talk?”
“Sure.” I walked behind Amora from the kitchen to the sitting room.
“So what’s on your mind?” she asked as she sat beside me.
“A lot of things. First I have to see Derek almost every day because we work together and I don’t want to see him. Next, do you notice that my mom is growing weaker? Amora it terrifies me. I can’t handle it. I just can’t.”
Amora took my hand. “Roman, I don’t believe any of us is given a problem or a challenge that we can’t handle. There is strength inside you. You just have to find it.”
“It’s easy for you to say.” I scoffed.
“I have been through terrible things too. I lost my mother to cancer when I was seven and my dad to a mining explosion when I was ten.”
“Oh my. I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Who took care of you?” There was sadness in her eyes and I felt bad for making her remember.
“Story for another day.” She sniffed. “Nicole loves you. So much. She has a lot of regrets and she feels she wasn’t a good mother to you. Do you feel that way too?”
I looked at Amora, she still held on to my hands.
“My relationship with my mom isn’t simple. I resented her for a long time because she let herself go just for dad who walked out on us by the way. When I found out about her condition, all that resentment melted away and I felt regret instead for not making use of all the time I had with her.”
“You still have time with her Roman. Make use of it.”
“How do you do it Amora?”
“Do what?”
“How do you make everything look so simple?”
She smiled. “They really are. We are the ones who complicate everything. About Derek, try to forgive him. I know it’s hard but once you do it, you’ll have peace.”
I nodded. “I will try. I’m sorry I kissed you. I just… I don’t know.”
“I’m not sorry you kissed me and I’m not sorry I kissed you back.”
“Why?”
“Because Roman, I’m starting to lose my heart to you.”
I was speechless and my eyes fluttered. How the hell was she always so honest?
“I wrote you a poem. It’s in my room. Come on.” She pulled me by the hand into her room.
“You write poems?”
“Yeah. It’s a hobby.”
Amora fumbled with some papers and then she picked out one and sat next to me.
“Ready?” She asked.
“Ready.”
“I met a man.
His name is Roman.
In his porch our story began.
I met a man.
His name is Roman.
Maybe he is part of His plan.
I met a man.
His name is Roman.
His presence fills me up.
I met a man.
His name is Roman.
He needs to learn to calm down.
And let things just happen
I met a man
His name is Roman
He reminds me of what a god should look like…” Amora stopped.
“Done?”
“Yeah. I’m not exactly done yet…”
“It’s nice. But I know I’m no god.” I said amidst giggles.
Amora looked into my eyes, scanning, searching for something. Something I had no idea what it was. Then she bent her head.
“You are the most wonderful person I have met.” I said. “Did you hear me?” I asked and lifted her head with my hand.
“You are the most wonderful person I have met too. I’m not saying it because you said it first. I mean it.”
“Can I kiss you Amora?” I asked softly and then felt stupid for asking.
“I thought you would never ask.” Amora said and a smile curled up both our faces. I pulled into her and I moistened my lips in preparation to kiss her. Then I gently bit her lower lip and I felt her body shake. I bit it again and she shook again. It was funny, the way she responded, the way her body shook. She grabbed my arms with her hands and she almost dug her nails into my skin. I decided to quit torturing both her and myself and I slowly took her lips kissing the lower one first and then the upper one. Before I could make another movement, Amora took my lips, devouring them, causing me mind shattering sensations. She grabbed my hair, her fingers grazing my scalp while our lips still made love to each other. I couldn’t control myself anymore and my hand strayed to her breasts and I squeezed them through her blouse. I wanted to touch her. I needed to touch Amora’s skin so I started struggling with the buttons of her blouse but she stopped me.
“No Roman. I think I should go to bed now. You should too. Goodnight.” She stood and left the sitting room without looking back at me.
There I was, baffled at what had just happened. I wanted her and I could bet all I had that she wanted me too. So what happened? I asked myself looking down at the erection in between my legs. Then it hit me. It was fornication. I laughed. She ran because she didn’t want to commit fornication. I should have known. I just should have known.

“Good morning beautiful.” I said to my mom, kissing her.
“Roman. You look like you are in such a good mood.”
“I am.” I was in a good mood for reasons I did not know. I felt lighter and better and happier.
“Has Amora been up here this morning?” I asked my mom with furrowed brows.
“No. Why? Roman did you two get into a fight?” There was worry in her voice and I could sense her fear of losing Amora.
“No mom. We kissed and then things got awkward.” I had not a single inkling why I told my mom that I kissed Amora.
“Poor child. She’s avoiding you. Probably feels embarrassed. You should go talk to her. Go now.”
I stood up and was about leaving the room when my mom’s voice stopped me.
“Roman. I like that girl and I know you do too. If I were you I would play my cards well…
“Mom. I can handle this.” I said smiling and she smiled too.
Was my mom about giving me relationship tips? No way. I scrambled out of her room before she could open her mouth again.
I stood in front of Amora’s door not knowing what I would say when she opened it. I felt like a teenager and I was a grown man. I took a deep breath and knocked. The door swung open almost immediately and Amora stood in front of me biting on her lower lip causing me to smile. I noticed how red her cheeks had turned and she blinked too much.
“Amora…”
“I’m sorry about last night. Running off like that?”
“You don’t need to apologize. I should have known.”
“Known what?” she asked.
“Woe betide all fornicators? It’s in the Bible.”
Amora burst into laughter. “Roman, I don’t think there is any portion in the Bible that says Woe betide all fornicators and if there is, I’m yet to come across it.”
“Hmm. That’s strange because I remember when I was a kid, the Sunday school teacher would always say in his croaked voice, Woe betide all fornicators.” I said trying to imitate the Sunday school teacher.
Amora laughed some more and I swear, I saw the glitters in her eyes and there was something about those eyes that told me, Roman, you are home.
“You attended Sunday school? Who would have known?”
“I didn’t miss a Sunday.”
“Roman…” Amora said. God, I loved the way she said my name, like it was special, like it meant something to her.
“I promise, I won’t do it again. We will do only the things you are comfortable with. God forbid I be the one to lead you into fornication.” I said teasing her.
“Am I your girlfriend now?” She asked.
“Huh?” I was confused. “Why? Because we kissed?” Amora, do you automatically become girlfriend to any man that kisses you?
“Because you said we will do. So Roman, am I your girlfriend now?”
“Girlfriend? Girlfriend. I don’t know. I mean… we should… Amora.” I stammered utterly at loss of what to say.
“I would really like it if you become my boyfriend. What do you say?” She chipped in as if it was going to help me decide on what to say. Whoa. I did not see that one coming. Amora, my girlfriend? Amora, my girlfriend. Hmm, I already liked it.
“Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?” I asked in chuckles.
She winked at me. “Only if you want to.”
“Amora.”