Chapter 24: Joe

On Saturday when Joe awoke, he lay in his bed almost feeling as if he had imagined the night before. The evening replayed in his mind, and he found himself smiling as he remembered the soft touch of Elizabeth's lips on his. Everything had happened so quickly. He still felt hints of the excitement he'd experienced last evening, but part of him was still plagued by fear and confusion. He had been guarded and lost for so long, but somehow Elizabeth had let him forget, if only for a brief period. He sat up from his bed and looked around the room. He glanced over into the corner where his chair sat.

On top of the chair was his worn-out old backpack. He stood up from his bed and made his way to his dresser. He pulled a fresh shirt and a pair of boxers from his drawer. Joe walked out of the room and headed to the shower. He couldn't keep his mind from thinking about Elizabeth. He knew he had to do something that day, but it wasn't going to be a day spent in his darkroom.