Six months ago
The cold rain felt like tiny knives digging into her arms and face; her hair was plastered against the sides of her face and yet she ran.
She ran harder than she had ever run before. Her lungs burned and her legs ached for her stop, but she couldn't. The darkness seemed to be closing in on her, but she didn't slow.
The report didn't give details only that she needed to get to the air field immediately. She instinctively knew that the next few moments would either be the worst or best of her life.
She slowed down entering the clearing surrounding by flashing lights from the patrol cars. Stopping she stared at the sight before her.
Cars were parked at all angles and the lights flashed creating a warm glow across the scene. It was as if everything was in slow motion.
Her eyes sought out his form in the massive crowd before her. Everyone was already on the scene and she couldn't see him. It was as if they heard her thoughts.
The crowd parted slightly, but it was enough and she caught her breath. He was alive.
She took a step forward and whispered, "Zhane."
Two years ago
"This is ridiculous, why can't someone else do it?", she snapped. He sat down the shirt he had been folding and stepped around the bed towards her.
"You know why. I helped the rebels build it and we are this close to stopping them. I can't turn my back on them now."
She crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at the floor, avoiding meeting his eyes. He placed his hands on her arms and rubbed lightly.
"I won't be gone long. I promise. This is just something I have to do."
She looked up and blinked back the tears in her green eyes. "I know", she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I just can't lose you".
He picked her up in his arms and swung her around before tossing her on the bed. "You can't get rid of me that easy babe."
She laughed in spite of the sadness of his leaving. "Oh really need I bring up our first date." He sat on the bed beside her.
"That wasn't a date…. That was me playing hard to get".
She leaned close and her lips stopped barely touching his she whispered. "Looks like I won."
His lips touched her and he murmured against her mouth. "Or did I."
Present Day
"Hey, how about you hurry it up?" She shook her head clearing her thoughts. She had about a half an hour left and her shift would be over.
She grabbed the steaming pot of coffee and went to refill her last customers of the night. The tips that night weren't bad, but they weren't her best. She knew that was in part because she kept spacing out and ignoring her customers.
If only she had left home later, if only she hadn't had the extra time before her shift started then she wouldn't have snagged the newspaper in the back and her mind wouldn't keep drifting while she was trying to earn a living.
Seeing his face in black and white was as bad as if he had walked through the door. He was hers, but not according to the headlines.
It read, WAR HERO TO WED.
She looked up at the couple at the table who were trying to catch her eyes to signal for the check. She motioned them over the register and ran up their meal and coffee.
She smiled an apology as the dropped the few cents of change into her tip jar. It was her own damn fault anyways for letting him affect her like this.
She grabbed a towel off the bar and went to wipe down the table and chairs as she listed off the reasons she was better off without him.
Six months ago
A tall long haired guy turned around at the sound of her voice. His sandy brown hair hung past his shoulders. His name was Andros and he stepped towards her, attempting to stop her in her place.
"Just hang on a minute. He is being checked out by medical."
She tried to get around him but he blocked her with a quick grab around the waist. "Let me see him Andros."
His hands around her waist refused to budge as she kicked and clawed at him.
"Calm down damnit!"
She stopped fighting against him and he loosened his grip. She looked up at him and whispered fighting back the tears. "Is he ok? Did he ask for me?"
Andros sighed and let her go satisfied that she wouldn't go anywhere. He turned around and ran his hands through his hair.
"He… he is being checked out."
"Damnit Andros that's not what I asked. You talked to him didn't you? Is he ok?"
He turned around to face her and she saw his eyes water. "He doesn't remember the past year."
She stared at Andros not quite hearing what he said. The sounds around her were deafening.
"W….What? How is that possible?" ,she yelled. She grabbed his arms. "Andros this isn't funny."
"God I wish I were joking. I wish I could tell you what is going on but…. Fuck I don't know."
She started towards him as Andros grabbed her arm and spun her towards him.
"Let me go", she screamed and began to fight against him.
"Damnit don't you get it. He doesn't remember you Karone."