I am Jacqueline Durosselle. When I go to the public library, the librarian chuckles. I ask her why she behaves like this.
"Well, you and Liliane Denis... as a couple."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Come on, you two are dating, correct?"
"No, we're not!"
"Yet I learned it from Marie, who learned it from Claude, who learned it from..."
"All right, all right, I get it. It's just a rumor in very poor taste."
"A rumor? Are you quite sure?"
Frustrated, I leave the public library. On my way home, I meet Liliane.
"Hi!"
"Hello, Mrs. Denis."
"Come on, Jacqueline, why this civility?"
I whisper in her ear that there is a rumor going around about the two of us.
"I don't want this to get out. It's too soon." I say. "We've barely begun our romance."
"It's a shame, but we can't stop the gossip."
Liliane takes my hands in hers. I try to free myself.
"No, no, not here! What if people see us?"
"Don't talk foolishness, my dear. It doesn't matter if people see us and judge us. I love you."
"I... I love you too." I reply, blushing.
We kiss for a long period and time seems to freeze around us.