When I arrived in front of my building, I felt nostalgic that I couldn't continue to stay here despite the circumstances. With everything that had happened, Daniel felt it was too risky.

— Are you sure I can't stay at home? I asked him again as he was about to get out of the car.

He looked at me without a smile.

— Yeah, Liz, that guy's got a real problem. There's no way you're staying here alone. I mean, if you want, I can crash on your couch.
— Oh no, no, you have to be at home for your work, it's much more practical. Right, I'll go and get my things.

I got out of the car.

— I'll come with you.

All the stress of the situation increased again as I made my way towards the entrance to the building. My vision blurred, I climbed the steps to my flat and began to find it hard to breathe. As I entered my apartment, I suddenly felt dizzy.

— Liz? asked Daniel, probably noticing that something wasn't quite right.

As my stomach churned, I rushed to the bathroom, where I vomited all the contents into the toilet. This panic attack was taking on proportions I hadn't anticipated. I heard footsteps behind me and Daniel grabbed my hair. The dizziness continued and I felt a hand caress my back.

— Don't worry, I'm here, he said in a very soothing voice as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Once it was over, I showered and packed my bags, my mind elsewhere. Tiredness had taken over my body. I'd never thought anything like this could happen to me. Daniel was watching my every move.

— I'm not going to collapse, I said.

He smiled at me as he helped me close the two bags I was taking with me.

— You never know. If you feel ill or unwell again, please let me know.
— Yes.

I came across The Life List, the novel I'd borrowed from the library, and decided to pick it up and finish it in the next few days.

We went out and I locked my door sadly. I didn't like to leave the house except to spend the night at Eve's. But in the present situation, Daniel had advised her to sleep at someone she trusted. We went downstairs and put my things in the boot of his car before getting in. As we drove along, looking up at the almost black, cloudless sky, I realised that it could have been a lot worse if I hadn't had Daniel with me. Maybe Trevor would have tried something at home, or maybe he would have followed me on Saturday afternoon? But none of that had happened, because Daniel had come into my life at a time when I needed him. For the last few days, my life had revolved around him. He was there in times of joy and in times of danger. Without realising it, my fatigue got the better of me and I ended up dozing off in the car.

— Liz, we've arrived, Daniel whispered beside me to wake me up.

I got out of the car, half asleep, and wanted to pick up one of my bags when Daniel assured me he could take both. Still slightly in the clouds, I followed him home. He showed me to a spare room in the corridor to the left of the entrance and put my things there.

— Would you like some tea?
— Yes please, I'll join you in the living room in a bit.

He closed the door behind him, and I looked around. The room was painted whitish grey. There was a wardrobe and a wooden chest of drawers with five drawers. The sheets on the double bed were dark grey which matched the room very well. Hearing Daniel enter the next room, I guessed it was his bedroom on the other side of the wall.

I decided to put on a navy blue pyjama T-shirt that was much too big for me, which happened to be one of Dad's T-shirts, and a pair of shorts.

When I came back into the living room, I saw Daniel behind the kitchen counter, preparing my tea. He had also changed. He really did have a perfect body. His navy blue T-shirt showed off his muscular arms and forearms and looked just like mine. He was also wearing grey shorts that reached above his knees. When he heard my footsteps, he turned round and smiled as he noticed my pyjamas.

— Did you lose the bottom of your pyjamas on your way here?

Smiling at him, I simply lifted my T-shirt, which reached halfway up my thighs, to show him my shorts.

— Well aren't we both coordinated? he says.
— Yes, except that I'm wearing a top that doesn't belong to me and therefore doesn't fit me at all.
— Is it Harry's?

My smile disappeared.

— No, this was my father's.

He frowned.

— Oh! Sorry about that. You look adorable in it.

He really had a gift for making me smile. So I sat down at his kitchen counter and started drinking my tea.

— Thank you, it's delicious, I said as he stood, elbows on the counter, facing me.
— I'll leave you the second set of keys on the kitchen counter, in case you need to go out. If it's not an absolute necessity, then I'd prefer you to stay inside. But if you have to leave, let me know.

He then showed me the food and the things I would need, like towels. He explained that we would have to share the bathroom and that if anything bothered me, I could just tell him. The marble bathroom with an island bath was large, absolutely beautiful and very clean.

— I hadn't thought about the fact that you might not want to use shower gel for men.

I smile at him.

— I brought my own, that's fine.

He nodded before turning back to the living room.

— I'm usually out of the house by quarter past seven, but I also get calls in the middle of the night, so I work nights, either here or at the office. Sorry in advance if a phone call wakes you up. From time to time I also have to work all night. It's quite complicated, the hours aren't fixed.

— I can see that, I said.

I then asked him why he had a gun. As he seemed to hesitate, I added:

—Or is it confidential? I can understand that.
— Yes, well, I work well with computers and in a government agency, but I also go out into the field, although not very often.
— It's very honourable of you to be so dedicated to helping others.I hope you realise that, though? You have busy, anxious days at times, and you allow your work to take over your life. And it's a job where you're helping or saving people you don't know and people who, if you'd met them in the street, might have pushed you and not apologised. It's a lot of dedication and it's very honourable.
— Thank you, Liz.

We continued talking for several minutes when my fifth yawn broke in.

— Well, I think you've had quite a hectic evening. Are you feeling better?
— Yes, I'm fine, thank you. I've just got a massive headache but a good night's sleep should sort that out.
— Don't you want some medicine?
— No, I'll be fine.
— We'll go and make a complaint about Trevor tomorrow afternoon when I get back, if that's okay?
— Yes, thank you for coming with me.

He turned off the lights in the living room and checked that the front door was locked.

I made my way back to the guest room before turning back to him.

— Well, if there's a problem, you can knock on my door and call me at any time. I'll leave you my office number in case I don't answer my phone, but I'll answer. But don't hesitate to come and wake me up in the middle of the night if things aren't going well.

I didn't know how to show my gratitude.

— Thanks so much Daniel.
— It's nothing, he said as he prepared to leave the room.
— No, well, I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me: you've come to check on Eve, you're putting up with me, you're going to help me lodge a complaint... I don't know how I'd have managed without you.

He came over to hug me.

— Maybe it's just fate working out well, he whispered in my ear as his arms went round me.

A wave of heat ran through my body. After several long seconds, we pulled apart and locked eyes. Our faces were only a few centimetres apart, and I could admire his features and his deep black eyes. A fine beard covered his skin and suited him perfectly. I stared at his lips and noticed that they were parted. Our breaths quickened. I was about to give in to temptation, but the notes guy intruded my thoughts. While he was watching my mouth too, Daniel seemed to have come to his senses and gradually moved away from me.

He smiles at me, his eyes full of tenderness... and passion?

— Good night Liz,
— Good night, Daniel, I replied in the same tone before he left my room.

I didn't know how I was going to manage to live with Daniel for several days in such conditions.