She thinks she has seen this man before.
She found him bleeding from a bullet wound and carried him back to her apartment. She pulls off the heavy, black coat he is wearing and also his shirt. Both are stained with red. It's a bit difficult, but she manages to bandage him up and gets up to run his clothes through a washer. The gun strapped to his leg looks important, and she does not touch it.
He wakes up in just two hours, just as his clothes are drying on a line. The first thing he does is point his gun at her. Slowly, she puts down the knife she is using to cut apples and turns around. He sees her, and then put his hand down.
"Where am I?"
She puts a plate of apple slices into his hands and explains that she is a Sweeper.
"I see," is his only reply. The memories of her childhood when she was abused are all missing, but this man still seems incredibly familiar. All of a sudden, she remembers.
It's her younger self, swinging idly on the monkey bars. Her parents have been drinking and if she goes back, they'll hurt her bad. She can go home when they're sober and their hangovers are gone. They'll still hit her, just not as bad.
"Are you alone too?"
She looks down and sees a boy about her age. His golden eyes are dazzling and they twinkle a bit like her mother's topaz and diamond ring before it was sold by her father.
"Yeah, it's no fun being by yourself."
He nods vehemently, and his eyes are shining again.
"I know! Do you want to play? I'm Train!"
She giggles.
"Doesn't a train go 'choo-choo'?" she teases. Train frowns and tries to pull her off the monkey bars.
"You're so mean!"
And so, a glorious afternoon passes. By the time the sun is about to set, they have already tried playing hopscotch holding hands. It doesn't end well, with falls and scratches.
"Hello?"
She pulls herself out of the flashback. Is he really Train? There's the same wild hair and gold eyes, but they don't remind her of gemstones anymore, only tarnished gold.
"Sorry, here." He inhales the soup she gave him and actually wants seconds. He eats way too much.
"I'm Saya. You?"
"Train."
He doesn't remember her anymore. He stays there until his clothes have dried.
"Thank you for saving my life." She smiles at how awkwardly he thanks her.
"No prob. You're free to visit anytime! I have a couple safe houses here and there, but I consider this one my home."
He says nothing as he leaves, but to her surprise he does come back.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again…
To the very most bittersweet end.