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<br><br>I’m developing time-lapse photos I’ve taken earlier in the day of a Georgian house, but there’s more in the shoot than I anticipated.

A beautiful girl is looking back at me.

It’s a face—a close-up. Did she blunder into the shot by mistake?

<br><br>The next few frames give the lie to that—she’s smiling and waving at me. She’s dressed in the style of a bygone era—the hem of her dress touching her shoes.

Is this a joke? I wouldn’t put it past Gus to set me up on a blind date with the photo-shoot as a teaser.

I do a slow burn and punch in Gus’s number on my cellphone.

<br><br> “Hey Pal,” his cheerful voice greets me, “We got the house.”

“Congratulations!”

“Yeah, thanks. Well now, all that remains is for us to get you a woman.”

That reminds me of why I called.

<br><br> “Speaking of women, did you pull a little prank on me today?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, James.”

“The girl in my photo-shoot—was that your idea?”

“You got a girl in your soup?”

I take deep breaths.

<br><br> “You may think that’s funny, but you ruined a whole day of shooting.”

“Wait, take it down a notch, Pal—I don’t know what you’re talking about. I had nothing to do with some girl in your photos—honest.”

Now, I’m really puzzled.

<br><br> “I guess I’m over-wrought. Don’t worry about it,” I tell him.

“I’m not,” he chirps back.

“Well, celebrate with Katie and give her a kiss for me.”

“Sure Pal—get your own girl,” he laughs.

Then, he adds, “Hey—maybe you should meet that mystery girl in your photo shoot. Are you sure you haven’t been wishing on a star? I hear that works.”

“Good night, Gus,” I say, ringing off to laughter.

<br><br>I go back and check the photos.

The girl is definitely dressed in the style of the mid-1800’s. It’s weird. So, I decide to develop the rest of the roll.

Then, I get a real shock. Near the bottom of the girl’s picture, in graceful, Spenserian handwriting, is a simple message: *Hello.*

This is impossible, I tell myself. Then, I begin to shake.

How the hell did she do that?

I sit by the fire all night pondering the dilemma. Finally, I’m so exhausted and drunk I’m barely able to drag myself off to bed.



<br><br>That night I have a dream.

I’ve bought the Georgian house and Gus and Katie and a few friends are visiting. It’s a housewarming.

Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door and the girl from the photo enters with a girlfriend.

I greet her and we talk as if we’re old work colleagues.

<br><br>The party goes on—we drink a lot of wine—and then, I’m alone with her. I think I’m giving her a tour of the house and we’re in the bedroom.

She sits on the bed and softly weeps. I ask her what’s wrong and try to console her. But instead of talking, I find myself softly kissing her.

It’s gentle, and one of the sweetest kisses, I’ve ever experienced.

I never want it to end.

<br><br>But then, Katie happens to come into the room, and makes a remark about our sudden intimacy. I feel embarrassed.

Still, I can’t stop feeling drawn to the girl.

I wake up, just past 8:30 am—thunder rumbling softly outside. I can still feel the soft touch of her lips.

I lie there staring at the ceiling and wondering what’s happening to me.

<br><br><center>© 2018, John J Geddes. All rights reserved</center>

<br><br><center>[Photo]( https://weheartit.com/entry/285805 )</center>
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