midnight
I was losing self-control . I felt powerless to battle successfully against the temptation . Stealthily walking over to the door , I softly bolted it and then stood still for some time and listened . It was past midnight and everything was quiet . I turned out the light and started to go over to Arletta . As I did so , something within me seemed to cry out with shame against such cowardice . As I paused for a moment , the voice from within became stronger in its disapproval of my intentions .