In a moment they were at her door. She took her room key and stuck it into the door lock. "Darn, it fits I'll have to go in now." She turned the key and opened the door, and then turned back to John still standing in the hallway. He took a step closer to her they were now only inches apart. He heard her catch her breath as he leaned over and their lips touched. He kissed her slowly and passionately, wrapping his arms around her waist and held her closely. She in turn wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders. They stood there for what seemed an eternity until they heard the ding of the elevator announcing someone was arriving on their floor. They parted and stood there both breathing hard. Jennifer cocked her head slightly, smiled and said, "Goodnight John."
John smiled back. "Sweet dreams Jennifer." He slowly turned and walked the few feet to his door and took the door key and stuck it in the lock and turned it, a loud click was heard. He pushed open the door. They both stood there for another moment, not moving, they just stared at each other. They heard the ding of the elevator again and then heard the door to the elevator open up, both turned their heads to see an older heavyset man wearing a white cowboy hat and blue and white flowered Hawaiian shirt and his wife exit the elevator chatting very loudly to each other, they started down the hallway toward them. Jennifer held up her hand to wave Goodnight. John did likewise as he entered his room.
Once he closed the door, John leaned back on the door just standing there for a moment, loneliness flooded within him. He inhaled and exhaled deeply, he felt like part of him was missing. He felt a lump grow in his throat as he worked hard to push these feeling away. He knew he was doing the right thing by not being with her tonight but it still didn't make it feel any better. A friend of his years ago had once told him that he knew that he would always do the right thing in life. Tonight he didn't want to do the right thing. He headed for his bed, not even bothering to undress; he flopped on top of the bed. His mind filled with visions of Jennifer. Luckily sleep came to him quickly.
After Jennifer had entered her room she walked over to the large window overlooking the canal below. The canal was empty now except for a lone gondola plying the canal. She looked down at the scene. The two riders looked like her and John, they were kissing, their arms wrapped around each other. She started to cry and walked over to her bed. She sat there in the dark, only the lights from the canal filtering into her room, giving the scene an unreal quality. Earlier that morning she felt that this room was the most beautiful room she had ever seen. Now it was empty, lonely. Then she realized the truth; the room was just the same, it was she that was lonely and empty. She suddenly wanted to run next door and knock on John's door. She wanted to fall asleep in the comfort of his arms wrapped around her as she had done on the train ride out here. She needed to feel secure, him holding her again. She knew that John cared for her too, that was obvious. But the truth was, she was still engaged to Michael, and even though Michael had done an extreme wrong, she should not do the same. Her head hurt, her mind was racing with thoughts some were of love some were of anger, some for John and some for Michael. She was still sobbing a half hour later as the hotel phone rang she sat up quickly wiped the tears from her face. Her face lit up, she was hoping it was John calling. She jumped up to pick up the phone. The voice on the other line was that of Michael, upon hearing him her smile faded instantly and a frown took its place. After her call, she started to cry harder, and sometime in the middle of the night she cried herself to sleep.