03-26-2024, 01:59 PM
Rafael seemed a thousand miles away, and for all that he smiled and spoke it had the feeling of rote. The two men were clearly enamoured of her companion, and Noémi demurred naturally, but was surprised he did not seem to pick up on their interest in him. She accepted the compliments of her dress with grace, content not to seek the spotlight – preferring it, in fact. Kristian was almost theatrical in his warm welcome, but there was a profound melancholy to Jensen, as though he did not feel he fit the grandeur around him. She felt a kinship for that.
They spoke about plants and botanical gardens, something she would have expected to ignite Rafael’s interest. Noémi was attentive to the conversation, but ultimately her heart lay somewhere else. She did not dare catch Nikolai’s eye across the distance, concerned at what might be betrayed in her expression, for even her peripheral glances set her heart to beating with longing. Her place was not at his side, and she would never relish what scrutiny would ever come with it, but she desired it nonetheless then. To feel the secret of his whisper against her skin amidst a room full of people who would never come to know the real him.
The conversation around her shifted then. She did not know if Kristian spoke the truth of such visions, though he seemed in earnest. Noémi did not consider herself naive or easily led, yet there was something in the manner of Rafael’s reaction that drew her to genuine concern for him. She watched his smile drain, like even that much effort became too much to bear. Kristian’s depictions sounded sinister, only enhanced by the low music he produced on his wallet. Noémi glanced at Jensen, though there were no answers there and he seemed likewise concerned. She sought words of comfort, uncertain what exactly was even wrong, while Jensen sought to steer the conversation to more innocent topics.
Kristian departed as the speech began. Noémi was reluctant to shift her attention to the stairs, but neither wanted to invite undue attention upon their gathering. She touched Rafael’s arm. “We can go?” she offered softly. But he did not answer her either.
They spoke about plants and botanical gardens, something she would have expected to ignite Rafael’s interest. Noémi was attentive to the conversation, but ultimately her heart lay somewhere else. She did not dare catch Nikolai’s eye across the distance, concerned at what might be betrayed in her expression, for even her peripheral glances set her heart to beating with longing. Her place was not at his side, and she would never relish what scrutiny would ever come with it, but she desired it nonetheless then. To feel the secret of his whisper against her skin amidst a room full of people who would never come to know the real him.
The conversation around her shifted then. She did not know if Kristian spoke the truth of such visions, though he seemed in earnest. Noémi did not consider herself naive or easily led, yet there was something in the manner of Rafael’s reaction that drew her to genuine concern for him. She watched his smile drain, like even that much effort became too much to bear. Kristian’s depictions sounded sinister, only enhanced by the low music he produced on his wallet. Noémi glanced at Jensen, though there were no answers there and he seemed likewise concerned. She sought words of comfort, uncertain what exactly was even wrong, while Jensen sought to steer the conversation to more innocent topics.
Kristian departed as the speech began. Noémi was reluctant to shift her attention to the stairs, but neither wanted to invite undue attention upon their gathering. She touched Rafael’s arm. “We can go?” she offered softly. But he did not answer her either.
![[Image: bannernoemimenthe.jpg]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bannernoemimenthe.jpg)