Fraudulent Fertilisation

Gazing on the wonderful city of Mar del Plata, fairly empty at that time of year, the couple looked for a place to shelter from the cold air, now that it was almost morning. They sat down on a rock to gaze at the dawn; they were tired, insufficiently wrapped up, the icy sea wind gave them goose bumps, but they were dying to see the rising sun. The minutes passed and they both knew that the wait was justified; they were sure that the coming aubade would be eternal. Unforeseeably, a slight gleam lit up the now softly illuminated horizon in a chosen, magical and universal point. It was as if a diminutive eye of fire, curiously, cautiously, was scanning the world over the horizon. It grew slowly, as if it were a lazy explosion, in a gradual but constant ascent. The golden heavenly body occupied bigger spaces, reflecting in the waters of the ocean and forming a fantastic mushroom with aquatic roots and a celestial crest. It was as if a silent, unhurried and beneficial nuclear bomb had exploded, until suddenly the sun divorced itself from the sea and, having shaken off the dawn, became the exclusive protagonist of the scene. At the same time, the magical charm of the situation became diluted, leaving in Alicia and Roberto the feeling of having been present at a sublime copulation and now finding themselves sweetly surprised by an orgasm of a celestial nature. It was at that moment that both of them, without knowing why, felt the need to melt in an embrace, to squeeze each other tight like two castaways unexpectedly finding help. That deep feeling that overcame them drove them to unite, to seek out each other. But sexual desire, which was undoubtedly present, was not yet primordial. First they needed to satisfy the thirst for substantial affection; that propelled them to look for mutual protection. Roberto felt overjoyed when he experienced contact with that young and trembling body. All that youth vibrated to the sound of her music and she offered it pleasantly. He observed the girl in the light of the dawn and looked upon the affectionate gaze of Alicia, her lips which invited him to kiss her. He did so, softly, letting his mouth rest for a long time on hers, nibbling it with tenderness, wetting it delicately, and he felt the taste of Alicia for the first time. She returned each of his gestures, each one of his affectionate caresses. Always in each other’s arms, they walked back to where they had started from, not far away. As a consequence of that strange communion they had experienced, they knew perfectly well that they couldn’t go on moving forward in their relationship that night. They didn’t want to destroy the charm of their encounter; they knew that some way they would see each other again, that they were destined to belong to each other, at least for a time, who knew for how long? Roberto took Alicia to a friend’s house where she was going to sleep over. Before saying goodbye, he asked her affectionately in her ear, while he embraced her and kissed her lightly on the neck.

“Alicia, I’d like to see you again. How about you?”

The girl, very much against her will, felt hurt by the memory of Álvez, by the image of her suffering sister. She never thought that her task would produce so much anguish; on the one hand it wouldn’t be at all difficult for her to go to bed with Roberto; on the contrary, she was sure it would be pleasurable. On the other hand, betraying him seemed contemptible. She sensed a fascinating spirituality in him, an unusual goodness, but the crude reality left her no choice. With damp eyes, she said,

“Yes, Roberto, I want to see you again too.”

After arranging their second meeting, Alicia left, caught somewhere between enchantment and depression. Roberto was hopeful and full of excitement. A new chapter in their lives was beginning, full of new emotions, and full of pain.