I first met my Lady of the Camellias in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

She was modestly dressed and her face was half hidden by a beautiful scarf

When I enquired of this modesty I expected an explanation of respect

But she told me that it was to hide a white scar which she had received in a car accident

 

She introduced herself as Marguerite and I noticed that she was carrying a neutral flower

But still her face was still half hidden in the glare of the high bright white sun

I liked to think of myself as a passionate man but I was just an empty fraud

As all men are and was in the process of making my slow erotic move

 

Marguerite only removed her scarf when we sat down to eat in a cool bar

It was then that I saw (although I pretended not to) the extent of her scarring

But this did not detract from her outstanding beauty although she was ashamed

As the scarring extended from her lower jaw along the fine line of her swan neck

 

She told me that she was fully aware of my erotic motives but said that my journey

would be sparse as apart from her visible scars her lungs had been damaged

in the accident which necessitated long period of rest otherwise she might collapse

which was very important especially in hotter countries where the heat could be fierce

 

I proposed to her that evening over dinner and she accepted on the spot

and now five years later we are together having never been apart

Our lovemaking is quite gentle almost transparent as we skim the sea

but we do not seek leisure under the waves as we will always remain childless