Music For this Page Arranged by the WebMistress
He wanders aimlessly through the night, searching for a place to rest. The sun is still hours off, and the moon is bright and high in the sky. He watches two people go into a home, party of some sort. He smirks at the theatrics of the holidays, and continues on his way. He remarks the comings and goings of the people around him with only mild curiosity. He has seen the same for a very long time.
A few hours later finds him outside a small bar, still a couple of hours to go before the sun rose, so he stops in for a rest. He notices the same couple he saw hours ago, sitting at a table in the corner of the bar. He moves closer and takes a seat behind them, listening to their conversation.
"You didn't have to act like that" The man says.
"Yes I did." The woman replies. "You were the one that wanted to go to that stupid party in the first place."
"You didn't have to go along ya know." The man says.
"Oh, didn't I?" The woman replies. "That's not what you told me this morning, when you decided to finally tell me about it."
"Well, still ? you had a choice." The man states. "I didn't say you had to go, just suggested that you work a room better than I do."
"Curb appeal." The woman replies. "What a lovely thought. Seems that's all I'm good for with you."
"That's not true." The man states, sighing. "I know this pregnancy has been hard. I've tried to understand."
"You haven't tried hard enough." The woman replies. "I'm just glad to be away from your 'friends' for the evening"
"Yes, I know you are." The man states. "You made that very clear."
In the shadows, their observer smiles at the by-play, often he wonders why these people seem to have the need to exert control over those they profess to love. Very odd, but not unusual for these people. The woman has some guts on her though, standing up for herself. He stands and walks slowly out of the bar, still smiling at the conversation he was lucky enough to come across. It's not everyday one gets the opportunity to see such grit in a woman as small as that one was, compared to her husband.
He makes his was down the road, stopping to check different places for suitability for his resting as the sun will be up in only a couple of hours. He rounds a bend, when a transport goes by, rather faster than it should be going. He moves forward, quicker than the eye can register, to see another transport coming in the opposite direction. He gasps when the two vehicles collide head on. Both transports burst into flames.
He runs forward and goes to the first transports, yanking open the door. He backs up quickly when he sees the face of the same woman and her husband from the bar, just a � hour ago. He notices the protective arm of her husband resting against her body. This man may not always show love, but he obviously feels it, to try to protect her like that. He reaches in and lifts her gently into his arms and walks with her quickly to a place away from the burning transports. He lays her gently on the ground, takes his jacket off and covers her shivering body.
He runs back to the transport to get her husband. As he nears, he smells the familiar scent of death. He opens the driver side door and looks inside to see a large piece of glass embedded in her husband's forehead. Sightless eyes looking forward through the broken window. He looks up at the night sky and sighs sadly at the lose of this woman's husband. He looks over at the other vehicle to see movement from inside.
Running over, he yanks the door open and backs quickly up at the very strong smell of alcohol coming from the man behind the controls. Growling, he reaches in and pulls the man out. He hears the hissing of the fuel and begins to run, just as the transports both explode in a dazzle of fire.
He sets the man down, then turns to the young woman, who has opened her eyes. He watches as she looks around for her husband when the transports explode. Then he sees her eyes refocus on the burning wreckage. He watches as tears begin to fall softly down her cheeks.
"You were unable to get him out?" She asks, looking at her rescuer.
"I'm so sorry. He was already dead." The man replies sadly.
"That's okay, you did what you could." The woman states. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." The man replies softly, eyes widening at her candor and exceptance. "You're cold, let me hold you till the Rescue gets here. I won't hurt you."
He sees her hesitate, then look at him for a moment. He smiles as she moves closer, and he wraps his arms around her to keep her warm. They give no thought to the man lying several feet away in a drunken stupor.
The Rescue arrives and begins work on putting out the flames, and attending to the woman and the other man involved in the accident. He conceals his presence, but is shocked to notice that the young woman seems to know that he has remained. That he is still around, through all the crowds of people. She seems to know. This one is special, he thinks to himself. She knows that I'm still here, she knows.
He follows the Rescue to the hospital. There over the course of several weeks, spent in the company of this remarkable woman, he reveals himself to her. They talk endlessly about themselves, their families, their loves, and their lives. He is in awe of this tiny woman's stamina, and inner strength and beauty. She has a fresh promise and life that he's not seen in her kind in many years. That she is unafraid of him, was such a wonderful thing to him. He gives her knowledge and - justice.
He also gives her a gift. A very special gift.
