What if a demon were to creep after you one night, in your loneliest loneness, and say, This life which you live must be lived by you once again and innumerable times more; and every pain and joy and thought and sigh must come again to you, all in the same sequence. The eternal hourglass will again and again be turned – and you with it, dust of the dust! Would you throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse that demon? Or would you answer, Never have I heard anything more divine?
..Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

A hint of a smile played on Jennys lips as she replayed Marinas message over and over in her mind.

Jennyits Marina. Im sorry. Seeing Robin and bringing her tonightI think Im in love with you. I know I am. And I would do anything to have another chance.

Jenny could recall every word, every touch, every kiss, every look exchanged between themnever again would she experience such immense pain or pleasure as she did with Marina..and she wanted it back, she wanted it all backJust the idea of Marina would trigger a desperate ache as every pore of her being screamed out for Marinas touch.

Sitting in the semi-darkness of her writing studio, she looked across to Robin and Gene, sleeping quite contentedly, neither of them aware of the turmoil raging within her. She was grateful to them for aiding her with the illusion that she was okay, that she had moved on, that she had put Marina behind her. But wasnt she now what she called Marina once – unethical. using them, and even Tim, to fill the physical void Marina had left.

Jennys thoughts reeled back to the night of Bettes and Tinas party when she first experienced the force of Marinas magnetism. She was a goner the moment the most beautiful woman she had ever seen sat next to Alice and smiled at her. She quivered with a sexual excitement she had never experienced before. Alice was too busy talking to notice but she was sure Marina was aware of this assault on her senses. Marinas seductive voice and intense gazes drew her closer and closer to the edge of an abyss she would be quite happy falling into.