My name is Mika, it's short for Mikaela. I work as the assistant cook/waitress in a diner. I like to read books, mostly psychology and poetry. I got nothing special about me.

And this is the story of how I met a god.

It all started in one cold September night. I had to work extra late tonight because of a group of jocks who decided our diner will be their midnight hang-out. I was walking alone, the streets were quite empty. But in this town, you should never let that put your guard down. I regretfully lowered the volume from my mobile; "Welcome to the jungle" isn't as much enjoyable to listen to when you could barely hear it. But of course, I needed to at least hear my surroundings in case a psycho decides to jump on me from behind. And for added security, my hand clenched on the Swiss knife I always keep on my coat pocket.

I was about 3 blocks away from my apartment when I heard them. In an alley between a laundry shop and a burger joint I heard voices. Not even considering the danger I'm possibly putting myself in, I decided to eavesdrop a bit. With my back against the steel gates of "The Washing Well", I took a peek of what was going on.

Three men were in the alley. Two of them obviously looked like muggers, with their ski masks and all, how can it be not obvious? The third man appeared to be their victim. Well, I guess he was handling them quite well. One of the thugs was crouching near the thin man, his arms protective on his stomach. As I looked closer, the thin man was holding what looks like an aluminum pole roughly 3 feet long, and he's holding it as if threatening to pierce the thugs with it.

"Why you little scum!" the man who was crouching threw himself at the thin man, fist ready to strike. But the thin man swerved to his right and wheeled the pole, smashing it at the attacker's back. The other thug charged at him but he was quickly able to turn the pole's angle, and planted the end at the thug's chest, making him fall back on the wall.

Guess there are times when muggers mistake to target a fighter, eh?

The first thug appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the thin man from behind and lifting him. "I got him! Kill him, Jake!" He yelled at his ally. Jake, the other thug, took out a Swiss knife, a tad larger than the one in my pocket, and neared them; the thin man struggling to get free from the first guy's lock.

Now, here's the part when little Mika saved the day. I fumbled around in my shoulder bag, as I yelled, "Over here, officer! They're here!" In the nick of time, I found my trusty whistle and blew on it three times.

I'm proud to say what I expected happened. "Cops!" yelled Jake. "Let's get outta here!" And with that, the man holding the thin guy threw him to the wall and both thugs ran towards the other end of the alley.

I lay back against the steel gates before I made my move. Slowly, I entered the alley, another trusty item from my bag, which is my small pen light, gave me better view of the crime scene. The thin man was just getting back on his feet when he saw me. He was taller than me, with hair as black as mine. I'm not sure if it was the lighting, but he looked pale. "Hey, you okay?"

"I'm... I'm all right." he answered. He had an accent, which made me think he's not from around here. British, I'm guessing? Or Australian? I'm not really good with determining accents.

"Did they take anything from you?" I asked and he shook his head. "No. At least, I don't think so. I have nothing with me."

Okay. "Well, I think you took away some of their pride. I don't think anyone ever fought back against them..." I said awkwardly, trying to lighten up the mood. He eyed me suspiciously so I changed the subject. "So, you wanna report this to the police? I can take you to the station if you want. What's your name?"

He took a moment before answering "I... uh, I do not know."

I blinked, trying to process his answer. "I'm sorry but, are you serious?" I asked. Having read a couple of books about body languages, I tried to determine if he was lying. His eyebrows were furrowed, his pupils shifting direction as if trying to find something on the ground. I have a good guess he's thinking of something deeply, or trying to remember something. He bit his lower lip, sign of anxiousness.

"I... don't believe I'm lying..." he said. Judging from his tone, he believes what he's saying. So it's either he's telling the truth, or he's a professional liar. Then, again, why would he lie to someone like me like this? If he's trying to hide something, he could've given me a fake name and brush me off. But, no. He's still here, talking to me.

Great. I saved a stranger from getting killed and apparently, he has amnesia. I'm tempted to look for cameras in the alley, thinking someone's pulling a prank on me.

Giving in to the possibility that this is really happening, I said, "Well, I'm Mika. And don't worry; I'm not gonna try to mug you as well. Apparently you have nothing with you, not even your memories, so it's highly unnecessary." I laughed awkwardly and he looked a bit offended.

Strike two, Mika.

"Sorry," I quickly said. "I'm not good in making conversations when I'm nervous, and confused. Which, I am both right now."

"I should be the one apologizing." he said. "You saved my life, and I haven't thanked you yet. I wish there was a way I can repay you. But as I have said, I have nothing. I don't even remember who I am. I apologize for that."

"You're apologizing to me because you have nothing? You are a bit weird, sir." I couldn't help but laugh, which in this time, he chuckled a bit himself. Ah, finally, my attempt to lighten up the mood has succeeded. "Are you sure you're a good man who just have amnesia and not a psycho rapist who's trying to trick me?" I had to ask.

This had taken him aback. "I can at least assure you that I have no ill intentions against the woman who saved me." he answered.

Right then I already had a feeling I was gonna regret my next words. But I couldn't leave him alone in a place like this where those thugs might find him and try to kill him again. I sighed, "Come with me."

Mika had invited me to her home; which was called an apartment, meaning it is one home in a building with others. She pointed out to me that the building was full of people; some of them would be awake for the entire night. So I shouldn't do anything that would upset her, otherwise she could scream for help and have someone would come and tear me to pieces. Her words, not mine.

Her home was like a large room where everything was fitted inside, except for the bath. Walking inside, I was already at her kitchen, which had a small sink and counter, a cabinet which she had called her fridge, and a small table where she dines, and a door that lead to her bath.

Passing the kitchen was a brown leather couch in front of a table too low to be eating in, and a box she called her TV. And at the very end of the room was a small bed against a window that reached from the ceiling to the floor with the curtains drawn. There were little items in her home, but she assured that she has enough to survive.

Mika had me sit down on one of her wooden chairs. "Are you hungry?" she asked me and I nodded. She took out something from the cupboard of her kitchen and in a few minutes she laid before me a warm cup of soup and noodles. "It's not much, but I hope it's enough." she said.

"You are giving me more than I deserve, Mika. I am very grateful." I said to her and I could see her cheeks flush ever so slightly. I smiled and began to eat. The soup was salty and warm and the noodles were a bit tough to chew which I liked. I don't believe I have had anything as such, but I wouldn't trust my recollection as I don't even remember my own name.

"So, I guess you'll have to sleep on my couch." she said after I was finished. "I figure you'll need your rest for tonight. Tomorrow I can take you to the station, check their missing person records to see if you're in them. Maybe we can find your way home."

I stared down at my knuckles, finding them scarred and calloused. I don't remember if I'd gotten them with my fight with those "thugs" as Mika calls them. But they looked much too old to be. "All right," I replied softly. I look up and see Mika's gray eyes searching me again. I'm not sure what she's looking for, but I'm guessing she's trying to study me in case I'm lying.

"You don't look so sure. Don't you want to find out where you live?" she asked and I had to give it a thought.

"I can't explain how, but I feel as though I am unwanted from where my home is. Or maybe it is me who doesn't want to be there - as if there's a reason why I'm here without my memories. I'm thinking it's like I do not want to remember something, or someone doesn't want me to remember. Either way, I believe it's not the right time for me to try to go back."

I turned back to face her, and again she had that look like she was studying me. "You are weird." she said. "What's the last thing you remember anyway?"

I answered her in every detail I could remember, which wasn't much. I only remember waking up at a bench, a bright orange light blinding me from above my head. I found myself in an empty road that I had no idea of how I got to. I started walking, hoping I could find something or someone to tell me where I was, or who I was. That's when those men walked up to me and started taunting me.

"So, you woke up realizing you had no memories just a couple of hours ago?" she asked and I nodded. "This is very messed up..." she said under her breath.

"I'm sorry if I am causing you trouble, Mika. It is not my intention." I told her as I stood from my seat. "You have already done too much for me. I can try to find my own way so you wouldn't have to look after me. I will return once I can repay my debts to you."

"Whoa." she blocked my way from the door. "You're heading out? At this hour? Are you trying to get yourself killed again?"

"It is better for me than putting you in such a position." I told her. Mika groaned and scratched the back of her head. "Look, just stay here for the night. Trust me, I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway worrying about you so you'll be doing me a favor. Tomorrow, I'll take you to Phil's. He can hire you as a waiter for the diner, which he'll agree since we're short on staff anyway. And we have a bunk bed at the back of the diner so I can try to butter up Phil in letting you stay there until you can get off on your way. How does that sound?"

If I were to be honest, I was confused at what she had said. But as I stared down at her eyes, I could tell how much she wanted to help me - to help a complete stranger. I felt awful if I'd let her down after all that she had done for me. So I said, "All right. If that's what you please, I would gratefully take your offer."

She sighed deeply and patted me on the shoulder. "Okay. We have a deal now. So first and foremost, we have to decide on what we'll be calling you."

"Uhm, alright." I tried to think of a suggestion, but before I could come up with one, I hear Mika burst out laughing. "What?"

"I'm very sorry." she spoke between her laughter, which made me feel quite annoyed but I pushed it down. "I just thought of a good name for you."

"Why is that funny?"

"Well," she finally stopped herself from laughing, thankfully. "I was thinking of how I found you; in an alleyway, like a cat cornered by two dogs. A cat who of course, scratched the dogs to fend them off."

"You're not gonna call me a cat, are you?" I asked.

"No. That would be suspicious." she assured me. "How does Tom sound? Like a tomcat."

I shrugged, "As long as you don't add the 'cat', I'm fine with it."

"We have a name for you then. Well, a temporary one." she smiled and offers her hand. "Nice to meet you, Tom." she said. I took her hand to shake, "The pleasure is mine, Mika."