Dystopian Journal Two

"What should I (Offred) take? Something that will not be missed. In the wood at midnight, a magic flower. A withered daffodil, not one from the dried arrangement. The daffodils will soon be thrown out, they're beginning to smell. Along with Serena's stale fumes, the stench of her knitting.
I grope, find an end table, feel. There's a clink, I must have knocked something. I find the daffodils, crisp at the edges where they've dried, limp towards the stems, use my fingers to pinch. I will press this, somewhere. Under the mattress. Leave it there, for the next woman, the one who comes after me, to find.
But there's someone in the room, behind me.
I hear the step, quiet as mine, the creaking of the same floorboard. The door closes behind me, with a little click, cutting the light. I freeze: white was a mistake. I'm snow in moonlight, even in the dark.
Then a whisper: 'Don't scream. It's all right.'
As if I'd scream, as if it's all right. I turn: a shape, that's all, dull glint of cheeckbone, devoid of color.
He steps towards me. Nick.
'What are you doing in here?'
I don't answer. He too is illegal, here, with me, he can't give me away. Nor I him; for the moment we're mirrors. He puts his hands on my arm, pulls me against him, his mouth on mine, what else comes from such denial? Without a word. Both of us shaking, how I'd liketo. In Serena's parlor, with dried flowers, on the Chinese carpet, his thin body. A man entirely unknown. It would be like shouting, it would be like shooting someone. My hand goes down, how about that, I could unbutton, and then. But it's too dangerous, he knows it, we push each other away, not far. Too much trust, too much risk, too much already.
'I was coming to find you,' he says, breathes, almost into my ear. I want to reach up, taste his skin, he makes me hungry."


On page 98, this is the scene when Offred and Nick encounter each other in Serena's parlor. It is late at night and they are both supposed to be in their assigned areas. These two are partaking in illegal actions and could both get in a severe amount of trouble. This page shows that there is sexual tension between them. They both find each other attractive and would like to partake in sexual actions with each other. By reading this page, the reader should be able to tell that this is an important part of the book. Not only does it show there is something between these two characters, it foreshadows what will happen later. This particular scene is the start of their relationship. The setting is also very important to due them being in a restricted zone. One where they should not ever be with out supervision. This shows that they know they are in a place that if caught, they will be sent away, but they keep staying there. Only for a few moments. Why? In general people, even in books, will get adrenaline from partaking in activities that an individual knows that is against the rules.
Characters: Nick/Offred
Setting/Items: Serena's parlor, daffodils, end table, mattress!