Jack stretched his weary arm across the bed. He didn't feel anything, just the cold, empty mattress. His heart sank. She wasn't there again. He missed her every second of every day especially in those half-awake-half-asleep dazes. He woke up each morning with a glimmer of hope as if the last few months had been a terrible dream and she'd be there next to him again, like she should be. Ronnie. All he could think about. He loved her. He wanted her. He needed her. She was the one that made it all okay. He wanted to be the one that she turned to when she needed him. But how could she if he wasn't there? Jack decided to get up. To get up and take action. What was the point in sitting around moping when he could be out there fighting for what he wanted?
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Ronnie sipped her coffee. Another bad night's sleep had left her more tired than when she'd gone to bed and what was worse was that Jack was in her dreams again. She wanted to push him out, to forget about him and move on but she just couldn't seem to let go. He doesn't want you, she told herself. You've ruined it. You and your psychotic ways- that's why he's not with you. Christ you're even talking to yourself now! Why would he want to be with a messed up, twisted woman like you? She put the coffee down on the draining board and looked out onto the Square, everything was so peaceful in the mornings. Her toast popped up making her jump. All of a sudden she didn't feel hungry anymore. She tucked her hair behind her ears and started to run a sink of water: anything to take her mind off of the soul-crushing thoughts that swam through her head, every hour of every day blackening her life and making everything such an effort. What could possibly pull her put of this ditch?
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Jack shaved faster than he ever had before, slipped on his white shirt and dark jeans and grabbing his keys from the dining table headed out the door. He pulled the door to behind and and took a deep breath. The cold March air filled his lungs and he rubbed his hands together. He looked up at the Vic, composing himself before wrapping his coat tighter round his body and beginning to walk towards his future. It was now or never.
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Ronnie's heart jumped. Jack was walking towards the pub and she looked a state. She dashed into her bedroom discarding her dressing gown on the bed and throwing on her jeans and a top. After blowing a kiss to her photo of Danielle and Amy on her dressing table she began coating her face in powder and mascara as fast as humanly possible, then, briefly spraying herself with deodorant and perfume, skipped down the stairs to the front door just in time for Jack's knock.
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