She opened the window, intent on hurling herself through that small aperture, out into the 
expanse of golden blue sky surrounding her beloved city. Little did she know that her rash decision would have consequences far beyond her present surroundings and well into the future for many, many people. On that spectacular day she was to have fallen to her death, to be smashed against the large rocks on the graying beach below. Instead, she changed her mind at the last possible infinitesimal second, she turned away from the gaping hole and collapsed on the throw rug at the foot of the hotel bed.
That is where she was found the next morning by the bellhop, a courteous young man from Belgium who smoked too much but never smelled like it. His name was Gerard, given to him by his Spaniard father, a man with an addictive personality and a penchant for womanizing. Gerard was in love with the lady in room 615, although he had barely seen her in passing during the three days she had stayed at his hotel. His excuse for being at the room that morning was a positively scandalous one, being that he was there to clear away the breakfast dishes. As bellhop this was not part of his job description but he was quite anxious to see the woman of his dreams again.
After knocking for fifteen minutes he utilized his key card and entered the spaciously furnished main room of the suite. Lady Peniot lay at the foot of the bed, sprawled on her back. He ran to her cold form, for the window remained wide open to the wintry elements at his back, and lifted her rather roughly onto the flowered bedspread. Re-crossing the room, Gerard began to close the window, but not before noticing that the lady had left her sherry glass on the windowsill. He tossed the glass unceremoniously out the window, hearing it shatter on the rocks below, and firmly shut the window.
Loosening his bowtie, he advanced toward the bed…
Sam
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