The swirl of smoke froze alongside the hand that had exited. Close to the front of the bus a young brunette woman sat listening to music, moving only...slightly to tap her foot to the beat of the music. Her serious but yet beautiful face could almost be a reminder of the girls in fashion magasines, but with a filled out body. Her long brown hair was tied back in a bun, with a few locks on her face. The creature beside her was a long red smoke creature resembling fire in it's movement, dancing. That's what was going to happen if I didn't do something different this year. I know what I should have done; I should have gone to the bar, found me a pretty lady, told her a beautiful lie and taken her to bed. The reality is that on Valentines Day a single girl at a bar is a sitting duck. The only reason she could possibly be there is because she doesn't have anyplace better to be and she's hoping that a one night stand will cheer her up. I had that option, that's what I did last year though. Not in public, anyway. I just think it would be sexy. That’s all.”“If I do that, it would mean I won’t have on any underwear at all,” she said. “I can’t wear a bra with the dress we bought.”“Oh really?” His delight was unmistakable.“Bob!” she chided. “If you had your way, I’d just go naked.”“Actually, no,” he said. “If your nakedness were money, I would be known to the world as the most parsimonious of Scrooges. I confess I want you to be naked for me alone. But hints at what lies beneath. OOo“John and I are going to our bedroom now, Tim. We’re not to be disturbed. This is a private experience.”Eve surprised everyone except John with this announcement.Caesar and John studied Tim’s face. His reaction was key to the relationship. Tim’s answer would reveal the rootedness of their marriage.Tim’s mind shattered into something resembling shards of a broken mirror. He self-reflected in a thousand ways. Saying yes or no or something-in-between was kaleidoscopic until he realized Eve was.