Eyes of the Protector
Ch. 1
New York, once a place of mystery and adventure was now a place of deceit and lies. So, much had changed in a year. I walk down the city streets, the buildings to my left and the busy city streets to my right. It was mid-July and the weather-man had said that this was going to be the hottest day of the year on record; I was dressed just for the occasion in back skinny jeans, combat boots, a black take top and a leather jacket. Exactly a year ago today my life had changed drastically, my outfit was a reflection of the anniversary. I was headed to her grave, she deserved that much, since she had never received a funeral. Since I had moved out of the city I wasn't able to visit as often. I had decided I would visit her every year on the date of her death. After one long year I had finally been able to accept reality and I was about to start my life over.
When I arrived at the cemetery I placed the bouquet of orange tiger lilies on her head stone. I knelt down prayed for her soul and left as quickly as I had come. I had hated cemeteries since I was 8 years old. I no longer cried there was no reason; she was in a better place now. I had competed my task for the day and was ready to leave the city. But, I knew I couldn't leave yet, I had to go to the place where she had died. The city made me anxious and nervous, in the first few months after what I now called the 'incident' I took on the habit of always looking over my shoulder, literally. The habit quickly reformed as I walked towards the hospital. I made it the hospital in about 30 minutes and walked in the front door. I asked the nurse at the front desk for Patty, the nurse who took care of her during the last days of her life. Patty came out and gave me a hug, "I knew you would come" she said. Over the time I had spent in this hospital Patty became a mother to me, so much so that she could read me like a book. "Did you know I was going to bring you flowers" I handed her a bouquet of bright orange lilies. "Oh, thank you dear you are the sweetest" she replied. "Yah, yah" "how are you doing today, holding it together I assume". I had called Patty several times over the past year; she really was my 2nd mother. "I doing just fine, I visited her grave earlier". We slipped into small talk and about an hour later I left the hospital. On my way out I noticed a man sitting in one of the waiting chairs. He was dressed in jeans, cowboy boots, a white fitted tee-shirt, and a leather jacket similar to mine. The tee shirt showed off his pecks and I could tell he was in great shape, you could tell under his jacket his armed were well toned as well. It then came to mind; that he was probably waiting for a wife of girlfriend and I left the hospital ashamed of the thoughts had invaded a day I had dedicated to mourning.
Back on the city streets, I knew it was time to head home and I went in the direction of the parking garage where I had parked my car for the day. The man in the hospital again invaded my thoughts, he was thin and he probably had a six-pack under his shirt. He could probably protect a girl from anything. His legs were toned as well, I could tell through his jeans that he had strong calf muscles, but he was also handsome looking. He had short brown, and he had a perfectly chiseled face. He had bright blue eyes; I had only seen eyes of that color once before. I couldn't believe I was thinking of a stranger this way, I had thought of only one other person this way; and that person had long since left my life. It wasn't until I was half way to the garage that I noticed foot steps behind me. I couldn't believe I had let my mind drift for that long, but even harder to believe I had let my guard down. I turned around and there he was following me I didn't know whether to be excited or scared for my life.