Part 4

“No one knows. I never told.” She shook her head. “I was fourteen. I couldn’t. I was afraid. I told no one,” Zoe whispered into her hair.

“But who?”

“I can’t tell. You know him. I won’t say.” She shook her head. Camille ran through her memory’s catalogue of faces.

“Tell me!”

“No!” Zoe released her and leaned over the table, gulped her wine, and lit a cigarette. Camille sat in the chair dumbfounded.

“Who was it? I need to know who did this to you.”

“You don’t. He’s been punished for life. Just leave it at that.” She turned away and blew smoke out into the night with the calmness of acceptance and denial.

“It’s okay. It’s okay now. It doesn’t matter. You are okay now,” Camille said, squeezing Zoe’s hand.

“Thank you. It’s no matter now. I’m old. Nobody understands me. Nobody wants me. No one approaches me. I’ve accomplished nothing, and I’m alone. I’ve failed my life.”

“You haven’t. I’m here. I’m with you. I have always been here. You have always been the only one for me. I should have come for you sooner.” Camille leaned over and kissed her. Zoe leaned in, scared at first, then demanding. The hungry kiss lasted for an eternity. Camille grabbed and pulled her tender body onto her knees. Zoe moaned and Camille’s frenzied hands ran under Zoe’s dress, across her ribs, and over her breasts. Their mouths fed one another. Camille slid her hands under Zoe and stood up, holding her in her arms.

“What are you doing?” Zoe exhaled. She grabbed Camille around the neck, and with one hand on Camille’s cheek, she rubbed her face against Camille’s.

“I need to show you something. You need to see it.”

“You are crazy,” Zoe whispered and ran her hand through Camille’s hair. “You are crazy,” she whispered into her mouth again. Her head fell backward. Zoe gasped again.

Camille carried her down the stairs, away from the cottage and into the moonlit meadow. The moon hung in the east above the heavy mist between the deep, black hills. Its lusterless silver light covered the earth, and the mist from the lake crawled between tall, sharp boulders. Distant mountains glowed with tangible darkness. The moonlight warped the pale rectangular faces of the cottages in the distance into twisted, deformed shadows. The earth stood still under the moon. Camille lowered Zoe into the tall grass and leaned over her.

“Look! Do you see it?” Camille’s finger jabbed at the tide of moonlight coming at them. “That other stuff doesn’t matter,” she whispered into Zoe’s chest.

“No one has ever done anything like this for me. No one,” Zoe whispered, and her fingers ran through Camille’s hair. Camille’s hands pulled at Zoe’s dress and released the pale body into the moonlight. Zoe’s soft body stretched over the damp grass, and the shadows streaked across their glowing skin. With clothes torn off, they reached for each other hungrily. The tall boulders surrounded them like an ancient temple, as they were about to feast. Camille leaned in. She devoured the smooth skin of the bare body. Her hands traveled. Eternal, yellow light crawled over Zoe’s mortal thighs where Camille’s palm cast a shadow.

“No, don’t. You are mad. Let’s not do this.”

Camille’s lips sealed her lips. “I love you, Zoe. I’ve always loved you.”

“Don’t lie to me,” she exhaled gently.

“I’ve seen your body so many times. I’ve always loved you. I have longed for you for an eternity.”

“You are a beautiful liar,” Zoe whispered, and Camille moved to the soft curves of the body, kissing and biting.