I take Asia from Ryan Donowho

The ringing of the phone broke the silence, making me jump out of bed. I reached for the device, my heart pounding again. I knew it was her, but I didn't know what to expect. When I picked it up, her voice was unexpectedly calm.

"Come," she said, without any intonation, but something in her voice made me press my face into the phone.

I froze, unsure of what to do, but intuitively I knew I had no choice. All I could do was walk, and I quickly descended the stairs, each step feeling like a heavy stone in my chest. My head was dark and empty. I didn't know what would happen next. I didn't know what she wanted from me. But despite this, I walked up to her door and entered the room.

She stood by the window, silent, as if waiting for something important to happen. My heart sank as I hugged her. She was cold as ice, her body seemed alien, like something that had nothing to do with me. I felt her slipping away, dissolving in my arms. But the moment I pulled her to me, I felt something else entirely - a spot of warmth, alive and bright - her lips.

I couldn't stop. My hands tightened and I kissed her again and again, as if trying to give her back something I had lost. But her body didn't respond, she remained motionless, like a statue, as if all her senses were consumed by some obscurantism. And yet I continued kissing her, automatically, until I lost track of time.

Everything around us was gone. There was only her, only this moment, this heat that I was trying to tear out of her. I didn't know how she felt. I didn't know if she was there, or if this was all just a fantasy. But I kept going, without even understanding why. It was complete madness, and maybe I was too far removed from reality to understand what I was doing.

I had absolutely nothing to say. I stood there, trying to find words, but everything that came out sounded like empty phrases. And suddenly, as if it had dawned on me, I realized that I had to ask her, so that she would understand me, so that she would understand that I intended to take her.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked, almost not expecting an answer.

She looked at me with interest, but without surprise.

"I know," she answered calmly, as if she had already expected this question.

"Really?" I raised my eyebrows slightly, trying to understand what she was hiding. "From the Travel Bureau?" I suggested, but my voice was no longer serious.

"No," she answered, without changing her expression, "not from there."

I felt her words leaving me on the edge of disappointment, but I continued because I knew I had to.

"It doesn't matter," I said, knowing it sounded strange. "I'm wild, terribly wild. Do you understand me?"

She frowned, raising her eyebrows slightly, as if she wasn't sure of my words.

"Really?" she asked, smiling a little.

"Terribly wild," I repeated, feeling my entire inner world shrink from fear and excitement. "What's your name?"

She looked at me shyly, but answered without looking me in the eyes.

"Asia," she said. "Asia Donowho."

I felt something inside me collapse. But I couldn't stop, because at that moment it dawned on me that I had to ask her for a reason.

"No, that's not what I mean. I mean your maiden name."

She froze, her gaze becoming suspicious.

"Vieira..." she said quietly, as if she herself was surprised that I was asking her this question.

I didn't catch her words right away, but when she said the name Vieira, everything became clear. And at that moment I understood: I didn't want her to remain "Donowho" anymore. I wanted her to be mine, to become my wife! And with that thought in mind, I said, without thinking about the consequences:

"I'll take you away from here!"

She looked at me, stunned.

"What?" Her voice was muffled, as if she couldn't believe her ears.

"I'll take it," I repeated, not giving her a chance to object. "And what, you don't want it?"

She shook her head, but I saw her eyes begin to soften.

"No," she answered, but her words didn't sound as firm as I expected.

"It's okay, I'll take you anyway," I said, leaving no doubt. "Do you know why?"

She fell silent, but I continued.

"I think I know," she said with a slight sigh, but there was no confidence in her voice.

"No," I objected, "you don't know, because I myself can't explain why it happened, but it happened when I saw you. Yesterday. At dinner. Do you understand?"

She nodded, but there was something about her look that I didn't like. I could feel her mind trying to escape this conversation, but she was already in my arms.

"Wait," I said, taking a step closer, "maybe you think I'm joking?"

"No," she answered, and in her voice I already heard not only surprise, but also some confusion.

"How can you know?" I continued, "although, anyway. Will you try to escape?"

She was silent, her eyes were hidden from my gaze, but I was sure that she would not leave.

"Don't do this," I said quietly, standing in front of her. "It won't help. Understand, I still won't leave you alone, even if I wanted to. Do you believe me?"

She was silent, and in that silence I heard an answer that seemed to release me, forcing me to leave her room. Without looking back, I headed towards my room. The stairs were as familiar as ever, the walls cream and green, unchanged. Everything around was in its place, but the world seemed to have changed. The door of my room stood before me as always, but now I did not see in it the usual, familiar object.

I opened the window and the air rushed into the room. What air it was! Fresh, but at the same time unusual, rich, as if each breath brought something new, something important. I stood by the window, enjoying this moment. And with each second my body was filled with calm. From the moment I left her room, I suddenly realized: I was calm. There was no anxiety, no excitement. I even smiled. But it was not the smile that is reflected in the mirror. It was a smile inside, almost mocking, condescending.