A moan builds in my throat, and you capture it with your mouth and return it in kind. We stand there, afraid to break the embrace, your heart beating ...aster and faster, matching mine in intensity.We break the kiss, loosening the embrace, and look into each others eyes. You search my face, looking for a sign, afraid of ‘Stop’, hoping for ‘Yield’. I look down, and reach towards the top button on your shirt. I grasp it, and undo it while gazing into your eyes. Your breathing has slowed, you’re. For a start, we all worked at the Timber Mill that drove the economy in our small town. I ran Payroll, Howard was in charge of maintaining the equipment and Richie managed the Purchasing and Stores sections.We were all in our mid to late 40's; I was 44 (the baby), Richie was next at 46 and Howard was a revered sage at 48.We had all been married but were now single. My wife had died of cancer five years ago, Richie's of septicaemia not long after his youngest child's birth and Howard's got fed. The story goes that there is a place somewhere in Asia where they describe hell as a place where a huge banquet is spread out. The sinners who deserve to be there are seated around the banquet but their hands have been replaced with long chopsticks. The chopsticks are so long that they can’t bring the food up to their mouths. So the sinners sit around all that glorious food and they starve for eternity because they can’t feed themselves.”“The story goes that heaven involves exactly the same. " Laurie, too?"Laurie, too," I assured her. "I'm just glad that someone talked some sense into me before I graduated." And that would be Dave, right?" That's correct."Eileen paused, before adding, "He really is a good guy." Yes, he is."From there, we got to talking about other things. I mentioned my own plans for the prom, and let her in on the secret that, up till now, I had told no one else.She looked stunned at first upon hearing it. Then, a smile began to spread across her face."I like that.