I am not a superstitious man, nor am I one of those who believe in psychics. I don't even like science fiction. I am an accountant by profession. I deal with numbers and numbers don't lie. If it can be added, subtracted,multiplied or divided, I believe in it.

That was since last night, when my whole world changed. When I realized that there is another world out there. And not to sound as if I am a fan of Gillian Anderson, well, somehow she and Mulder are right, "The truth is out there."

Last night, I met this girl in a bar. Her name is Sabrina. She was beautiful - deep set brown eyes, aquiline nose, and perfect teeth with a perfect smile. Her hair was the color of young corn hair, not blond, almost brown.

I only had a beer when she walked in the bar. The only vacant stool was beside me. She sat, almost shyly, as if she was unsure of what to say or do. When the bartender approached her she was almost hesitant to order. Almost in a whisper she said, "A margarita please."

Her voice was a little deep, a soprano. I cannot place her accent, but I live in a big city with different types of people it is almost hard to recognize accents. I noticed that her purse was brand new when she opened it to get her wallet. And, although I have never done it before for a woman that I don't even know I took out a five-dollar bill and paid for her drink. The bartender who knows me raised his eyebrows imperceptibly. He was almost as surprised as I am for what I did.

The woman smiled and thanked me, almost shyly and by the look in her eyes, she was really grateful, as if she really did not have any money at all to pay for a glass of margarita. Which I doubted for although I am not into fashion, I can recognize expensive clothes and accessories at a glance. She was wearing Gucci if I was not mistaken from head to toe. Her whole outfit seemed to have been decided by someone who really knows fashion, who can mix and match and accessorize.

I struggled with my own shyness before I can introduce myself and ask for her name. She turned out to be a good conversationalist. I found out that she worked in the most expensive department store downtown. In my accountant's mind, I figured two things - either she is paid highly there so that she can afford all those clothes, or she buys those clothes with her employee discount. I smiled to myself, thinking that I was beginning to read her.

We talked for several hours, and the bartender had to remind me that it was closing time. I looked at my watch. It was 3AM. I did not want to leave, I did not want to see Sabrina go so on an impulse, and I asked her to go with me and walk in the park. To my surprise, she accepted.

We held hands while we were walking. Her had was soft and warm and fitted my palm. I smiled inwardly. I never believed in love at first sight until tonight. I felt as if I had known Sabrina all my life.

Around 4AM, Sabrina asked me to bring her home. She was getting a little chilly she said. I wrapped my arms around her to keep her warm. She smelled like one of those expensive perfumes. Once again, my accountant's mind started working. She would be a high-maintenance woman, I told myself. But who cares. I found the love of my life.

When Sabrina gave me directions where she lives, it did not occur to me that she was giving me the direction for downtown. I was so happy just being with her. And when she told me to go into the employee parking lot of the department store, it has not hit me yet either. She mesmerized me.

When we entered the building, I realized that it was the department store. I was so surprised that all I could do was react and follow Sabrina inside. There were around 15 women in the room, all of them dressed nicely. Some were sitting, some were standing, but no one was walking except one, and of course Sabrina.

Sabrina let go of my hand and walked towards a corner. She sat on a chair, crossed her legs and I saw her eyes become glassy, giving me a blank stare. I called her name, but she did not answer. I walked towards her, touched her arm. It was stiff, and hard, felt almost like wood.

When a hand touched my shoulder, I almost jumped out of my own skin. "She cannot hear you now," a lilting voice told me. When I looked back, there was this Eurasian beauty in front of me. "You see, we are only allowed to be alive for five hours. She spent four of those with you. I warned her not to go out, but she insisted. I warned her to be home early, but she did not listen. Now you see her as she really is."

"I think it's time for you to go," the Eurasian woman told me. "The human employees will be here soon, and they might think you are burglar. Also, it is time for me to sleep also."

I ran out of the door, scared out of my wits. The sun was peeking from the sky. When I looked in my watch, it was almost 5AM.

I did not sleep. I went straight to my work. I tried to concentrate with the numbers which was my life, but I could not. All I could think of was Sabrina.

Lunch time,I was beyond everything.I needed to see her, no matter what she was. I went to the department, looked all over and found her in the Gucci window.

There was Sabrina, in her Gucci clothes, bags and shoes. Even as a mannequin, she still mesmerized me. I stared at her for a long time.

The guard saw me and said, "Beautiful creatures aren't they?" he commented. "Sad thing is that they never talk to you."

I smiled and said, "You never know, maybe they come alive when the store is closed."