"My nails" — I still can't believe that I replied that. But let me tell about last night from the start. The Professor picked me up at my place and we drove to a quite beautiful restaurant. During the drive there wasn't much said, and I became even more concerned about possible awkward silences between the two of us. But after we sat down and had ordered the drinks, he started to talk to me calmly and with empathy. He made some compliments and then, out of the blue, he asked me to say, what I am most proud of at the moment–"without to think about it".

And then there were those two words jumping over my lips: "My nails." ...

He shortly looked at them and with a so warm and winning smile he said: "And that's exactly what makes you just perfect, Jessy. I can imagine that you feel somewhat insecure here with me. But there's no need for that–absolutely not. If I had asked that very same question to one of my female students, they would have told me something about their most recent success, or about their independence...and that's fine, because it is what matters the most for them–just like your nails do for you. Not that I don't like those girls–being an academic myself–, but you know what? It's tiresome if there are only such people around you.

You, Jessy, are probably one of the most beautifuls girls around town, and as for me, you've got just the perfect amount of brains in your pretty little head. Let's forget that I'm a professor. Let's drop all that academic stuff, all those problems and complicated words. I'd so love to hear you chatter about what's ever going on in your mind. And if I may, I'd ask you to do me a favour: Do it the way you think: Keep your sentences short and stick with little small words, honey. You can't even imagine how much I'd enjoy it."

When I realized his words, I instantly felt sooo relieved–and suddenly I started to talk and talk...