Chapter One
I'm here without you baby
but you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
and I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
but you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight it's only you and me…
3 Doors Down- Here Without You
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone…
Green Day- Boulevard of Broken Dreams
The streetlights cast a pus-yellow glow on the gum-spattered Manhattan sidewalks, throwing wavering shadows out into the rain-soaked street.
A tall silhouette, face hidden in the shadow cast by the hood of his sweatshirt, trudged down the sidewalk, the scuff of his shoe soles on concrete echoing in the eerie silence that one in the morning brought with it.
The figure stopped in front of a modestly sized house, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his faded jeans as he surveyed the neat flowerbed in the front yard. Stepping behind the beat up Ford parked in the driveway, he let his gaze wander upward, taking in all the memories the place brought back.
His eyes stopped on the second floor, focusing on the window on the right.
His vision suddenly blurred, and he swung about abruptly, raising one hand to his face as if he were yawning, but in reality swiping furiously at his dark brown eyes.
I told myself I wouldn't cry… told myself I could get over this.
Turning back toward the house, he closed his eyes, lips compressing into a thin, painful smile.
Just weeks ago, everything had been perfect, he had been strong, happy. Nothing could have brought him down.
And then the world had imploded.
How long ago had it been, that they had sat on this very front lawn, discussing their future, their lives, their fates?
Another bitter smile crossed his face as he saw her in his mind's eye, from memory, cuddling up against another guy. It hadn't taken her long at all to find a new boyfriend; guys had been after her for as long as he could remember for her to dump him and give them a chance.
The words still hung fresh in his mind, even after a whole month.
I… I'm sorry… I can't love you back…
Abject misery.
There was no other description for it.
He knew he had been slammed hard into the ground and left to burn.
But he had forgiven her, just like always.
He knew he'd never get her back.
But he still forgave her, both of them lying through their teeth and saying maybe they could try again later.
He hadn't thought she'd ever get tired of him.
He bit his lip hard. Nothing could really ease the pain. Not now, not ever.
Time would heal some wounds, but the scars they'd leave were there for life.
Abruptly turning on his heel, the figure resumed his course down the sidewalk, the tears coursing down his cheeks thankfully hidden by the sweatshirt.
At the corner, he stopped and looked back at the house.
"Dai st'iho, Nita" he whispered, then vanished into the shadows with a slight pop and agentleimplosion ofair; swallowed up by the warm Manhattan night.