Kate had explained about the infamous husband, Lol; Mr. Non-Imagination. The more she chatted, the more she wanted to experience those haunting desires, that wander through the labyrinthine passageways of her mind.

“It doesn’t stop,” she confided in the latest sofa laptop exchange.

“You’re right, it doesn’t,” I replied.

“What happens?”

“?”

“If we meet up.”

“Depends where we meet. I thought you were up to your eyes in work and home life.”

“This can’t go on. My mind will explode, if I don’t find out soon.”

I explained about safety. Yes, the boring stuff, but very necessary, to help her realise that her personal safety was paramount. Really, it was best for both of us if we met in a mutually neutral, public location. Just so that should either feel uncomfortable, there was the opportunity just to walk away. I suggested that she might confide in Jen, to then use her as her text mate, with Jen knowing when, where and for how long the meet might take place. At the same time, there were opportunities to read body language, and to have instant, verbal responses to questions. So much information can be revealed by the telltale, unconscious reactions of our nervous system, which leaks the sincerity, or otherwise, of the things we say.

“Really soz to push u,” she typed.

When she went to abbreviations, it usually meant that Lol was wandering away from the tv, and she had flitted to the studying website quickly.

“How are you pushing?”

“Want to skip public.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“Have site visit ur way Fri.”

We’d been chatting like this for a good few weeks; actually a month. She’d been regularly messaging like this and no red flags had fluttered across, or through, anything that she’d said. In short, I felt that she was genuine.

“How will you swing it?”

“My prob. Satnav suggests cn b ther @ 11. U mind.”

Mind? Why would I mind?

“Coffee and chat?”

“Will still tell Jen.”

“Yes, you must.”

I knew the risks. Revealing my address, nosey neighbours, random visitors during the time she would be here.

“Friday at 11 it is then. Tell me what you’d like to happen.”

“I will, when there.x”

And all because Lol couldn’t be bothered to cooperate with his partner.

The next couple of days dragged, but Thursday evening had a single message.

“TGIF 2moz. Lol everywhere. Can’t chat.”

Friday dawned as a foul day. Rain lashed down. Well, Lake District weather was very often wet. But, “rain before seven, fine by eleven”, was a local rhyme. And on this morning, it held true. By eleven, the scudding clouds that had shrouded the hills, lifted and the powerful sun’s rays were busy evaporating the puddles and sodden ground.

On cue, there was a knock at the front door. I opened it to be greeted by a smiling, slightly bedraggled, young female, slightly taller than me, slender with tight curls to a head full of hair.

“Do come in, Kate. It’s so good to see you at last.”

She leaned forward and gave me a peck on the cheek. “You really can’t imagine how excited I’ve been, knowing that we were going to finally meet.”

“I kind of had that feeling from the last week or so. Come this way and try and relax on the sofa. Oh, the loo is that way,” indicating the other ground floor doorway, off the hallway.

The room was a dining kitchen, with a small lean to conservatory added, overlooking the river. Really overlooking. Like, the external ground floor rear doors and French windows, opened out onto balconies. And beyond, open fields and rising fell sides. So this was very private.

Kate had texted Jen, as arranged, and said she was going to every half an hour, if that was ok. Of course it was.

Over the next half an hour, Kate poured out further revelations of how she’d felt, why she’d progressed her feelings to meet reality. She really didn’t feel satisfied at home. Yes, Lol was a good guy, worked hard, had a good job. But really, when he came home, he just wanted to chill. She’d tried, and better tried, to remind him that she was holding down a near on full time job too, and that helping with the organising would be a real help. But, he would for a little while, and then go back to his own usual, sweet ways. It was like having an extra child around the place, at times.

“So basically, I’m wanting to discover the real me, with someone’s help.” She looked me straight in the eyes. “And I feel that you might be able to help me to give me the chance…to discover.”

Honoured? Who couldn’t feel such privilege, bestowed on oneself, by someone so beautiful.

“So what do I do? How do I start?” She had power in her bright, shining eyes. “I really want you to help and to show me. This isn’t a game. “

“Then put your cup down, text Jen and then stand in the middle of the floor, facing the French windows, please.” The sunlight bathed the fields beyond. The air was warming quickly.

She did as she was bade, and stood, waiting.

“What do you want, Kate?” I asked, as I slowly walked all the way around her.

A quiet, little voice from nowhere just said, “Me…I want to find me.”

Look straight ahead, Kate. Look through the windows, and concentrate on the wildness of those rising hills. I want you to be at one with the wild. Raw, open, nature. Now, Kate, slowly remove your clothes for me. Put them on the coffee table, but focus on the outside. Can you do that? Is this where you’d like to start?”

She slowly nodded, as her gaze was fixed beyond the room in which we stood.

“I can’t hear a nod, Kate. Tell me, please.”

After a long moment, that small voice spoke a single syllable, “Yes.”

I watched her, as I continued my walk around her.

“Neatly, Kate. Make your clothes into a tidy pile, please.”

She kept glancing away from the view, to place the next garment on the pile.

She stood in pants and bra; a beautiful rich blue, with yellows and pinks scattered across them.

She had stopped. Then, the small voice asked, “Should I be naked for you?”

“Would you like to be inspected, Kate?”

The biggest sigh I think I’ve ever heard came from her body…