Jessica took in a deep breath of air. She couldn’t believe that she was finally in Sweden. After months and months of planning, she was finally standing in Stockholm, and she couldn’t be happier. For the next four weeks, she was on the adventure of a lifetime, taking in as much as possible while she had the chance. And she wasn’t going to waste a single second.
Jessica had spent the better part of the last few years studying social work, dedicating her life to helping others. She had decided to take the trip, just one last adventure, before she started her position with Child Protective Services. She promised herself right then and there to forget about what was waiting for her at home, and drink in every part of this trip.
She left the airport, and found herself a taxi, not wanting to leave arriving safely at the hotel up to chance. The taxi driver told her to settle in as it would be a bit of a trip before they got to where they were going. Driving through Stockholm was quite something. It was a beautiful city, something that the pictures on the internet just didn’t show. She couldn’t wait to get settled and go exploring.
The taxi dropped her off at her hotel and she checked in, nearly vibrating with excitement. When she got to her room, she could hardly believe her eyes. The room was simple, but elegant. And the bed….oh the bed! A king size, with the softest sheets Jessica had ever felt in her life. Jessica flopped onto the bed and let out a soft moan, the soft surface welcoming after her long flight. The hotel was absolutely perfect, and it set her at ease right away. Jessica yawned and curled up. The bed was just too comfortable to resist. Before she knew it, her eyes were closed and she was fast asleep.
Jessica woke with a start, a sense of panic washing over her body. It took her a moment to remember where she was, waking from a deep and unexpected sleep. Jessica stretched, her body feeling refreshed. She looked at the clock, and she was happy to see that it was only early afternoon. She decided that it was time for a bit of an adventure before she settled in for the evening. Jessica grabbed her jacket and set out.
After a couple of hours checking out some of the local shops, Jessica found a café and decided to grab herself something to drink before she headed back to the hotel. She sat at a table near the window and ordered an espresso from the friendly server. She took a look around the café, seeing the smiling couples and groups of friends. She couldn’t help but feel a little homesick at the thought of all the people that she had left behind. Her boyfriend was very supportive of her trip, even offered to come with her, but she knew that it was something that she had to do on her own. She could remember the look on her mother’s face when she told her about her summer adventure. With the people she loved thousands of miles away, Jessica was forcing herself to be braver than she had ever needed to be before.
The server brought her espresso, and she thanked him in Swedish. He smiled and told her to enjoy. Jessica took a sip and scanned the café once more, just watching the people in the café. And that is when she saw him. He was alone in the corner nearest the counter, his nose buried in what looked to be a history text. He was stunning, the most handsome man that Jessica had ever seen in her life. His hair was sandy blonde, the perfect complement to his fair complexion. She watched as his piercing green eyes scanned the pages from behind his glasses. He had a strong jaw, clearly defining his classic features.
His eyes didn’t move from the pages once, sipping his drink without even looking. Every movement was effortless, natural, and distracting. She couldn’t help but stare. It had been a long time since Jessica had had an open opportunity to approach a man, but she found herself glued to the chair. She couldn’t move. For the first time, Jessica felt intimidated by a man. And she had no idea why she was feeling this way. She had seen many men, just as attractive as him back in Canada. And many of them she had approached without hesitation. But there was something about him, something that just shook her confidence.
It wasn’t long before her mind wandered under his clothes, wondering if what was underneath was as stunning as what she could see. She pictured him approaching her table, strutting with his shirt unbuttoned, showing off his fit frame. She bit her lip, dreaming of his accent as he introduced himself…
“Miss?” Jessica was startled out of her daydream by the server.
“Yes?” she said, blushing wildly, knowing she had been caught staring.
“Would you like something more to drink? Or can I get you something else…?” the server asked, a sly smile creeping across his face. This made Jessica blush even more. She knew she would never have the courage to walk up to the mystery man on her own, so she decided to ask the server about him.
“Actually, I was wondering if you could tell me who he is…” she said, her voice coming out as nearly a whisper.
“That is Mikael. He is a regular here. I think he is in uni here…Not too sure about much more than that, Miss. He is in here all the time…just sits there reading.” Jessica nodded and thanked the server. The server nodded and went to take care of other customers.
Jessica paid for her drink and stood to leave. She took one last look at Mikael, his nose still buried in his book, and walked to the door. She left the café, feeling defeated but determined. She would talk to him tomorrow, promising herself to work up the courage to do so.