36 Exposures Read Online Free PDF Page B

means to finally find you.” By silent mutual consent they both readjusted their bodies into another comfortable position.
    "Mike, before you go any further, explain something to me."
    "I'll try."
    "Why did you need to get the roll back? I mean, if you weren't planning on developing the pictures, why did you need to find the roll?"
    "For one thing, it was my only proof of you,” Mike admitted.
    Jolee watched as his fingers traced invisible designs on her abdomen, then gradually moved upward toward her breasts.
    "More importantly, I had to get the roll back before it disintegrated."
    "Huh?” She glanced up at him.
    "Think of...think of the photos as a time bomb. When I discovered that I was a Dream Keeper and understood what that meant... Hold on. Let me start again. I found out eight years ago I was a Dream Seeker. That's when I also discovered I was an Archivist. A Keeper. I knew that one day I would dream of the woman who was my whole world. And once I did, I had to take those pictures as soon as possible."
    "Why?"
    "Because the dreams don't last."
    "You're not making sense. You mean you would forget me?"
    "Worse. Once a Dream Seeker starts having those dreams, they only last for a couple of weeks. Then the dreams are gone. We don't get them back,” Mike answered sadly.
    "Oh! I get it now. You take the pictures so that when you forget the dreams, you still have a record of what your love looks like."
    "Eh...in a way. Jolee, the photos will only last for two months. Tops. At the end of two months the photos begin to disintegrate.” He wrapped his arms more firmly around her. “When the pictures are gone, so is the chance a Dream Seeker will ever have to find the other half of his soul."
    She blinked. “You don't remember her? At all?"
    "No. Nothing. If and when that happens, the Seeker has lost his chance at true happiness.” Mike reached for one of her hands and lifted it to his lips. “My two months is up. Losing my canister on top of that was...I can't begin to explain how terrified I was."
    "You mean you'll never find the woman you love?"
    "Not the one I was meant to. Oh, yeah, there have been Dream Seekers who've gone on to marry. If they're lucky, or blessed, or both, they remain with that person for the rest of their lives. But they're just as certain to divorce or have bad marriages as the rest of humankind."
    Jolee slowly digested that bit of information. She also remembered his warning about the film disintegrating. “Mike, I had the film developed at the camera store. Is the store in any danger?"
    "No. Not after the roll is developed. But that disk is a danger. I'll have to get rid of it."
    "One more thing,” she asked as she watched him crawl out of bed. Mike paused to listen, giving her his undivided attention. Add another check, she mentally smiled. “Okay, tell me if I have this straight. You find out you're a Dream Seeker, and someone like you becomes an Archivist, which makes you one of their Dream Keepers. What's so great about being a Dream Seeker?"
    "Because at some point you find out who your true soul mate is,” he answered. “Jolee, do you know how many millions of people spend their entire lives searching for that one special person they can spend the rest of their lives with? Who they can be truly happy with? Even though the window is brief between the time we finally discover who they are, and when we lose that chance forever, we still have that chance! I give the Seeker copies of his pictures so he can physically seek her through ads and the Internet.” He started pulling on his pants. “We have a lot more success at finding our true mates than it sounds."
    "But I barely know you,” she protested without conviction.
    He appeared to realize that as well. “That's okay. We have the rest of our lives to get to know each other.” Leaning over the bed, he brushed the hair away from her face and gave her a soft kiss. “Get some rest, Jolee. I'll be back soon."
    "Where are you