But Alexis grabbed him and held him tightly. "I can try to forget," she whispered. "Let's give it another try."

Leonel stared at her for some time.

Then he gently extricated himself from her embrace and got up. But he didn't leave the bed. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed, grabbed his trousers, and put them on. Then he lit a cigarette and began to smoke.

Alexis sat up on the bed and hugged him from behind.

After Leonel had finished smoking, he turned around and kissed her gently.