Norwegian woods

     Naoko started walking the minute we hit the street, and i hurried after her, keeping a few paces behind. I could have closed the distance  between us, but something held me back. I walked with my eyes on her shoulders and her straight  black hair. She wore a big, brown hairslide, and when she turned her head i caught i glimpse of a small, white ear. Now and then she would look back and say something. Sometimes it would be a remark I might  have responded to, and sometimes it would be something to which I had no idea how to reply. Other times, I simply  couldn´t hear what she was saying. She didin´t seem to careone way or another. Once she had finished saying whatever she wanted to say, she´d face front again and keep on walking. Oh, well, I told myself, it was a nice day for a stroll.