The rain fell heavily as Neal came home from his job. Tired and beat after going through the files on the newest case he was working on. It was almost ironic that he was now working with the law under a fake name and alias Jack Cleaner as a lawyer. When l1 years ago Neal had been driving around most of America, a petty thief pilfering ever shop and local convenience store with his girlfriend and true love Emma Swan.
Emma who he had betrayed to the cops and since he was still in love with her that was why turning her in had stung all the more. It should have been him in their behind those bars for 11 months in prison not her, never his lovely Emma. This was why he still had the dream catcher that hung over his bed and why every day when he got home he waited hoping today would be the day when August, the man who was responsible for ruining what could have been a happy future with a wife and family, would send a letter telling him that Emma had done what she was supposed to do.
It started to thunder and Neal made his way over to the window to close it, but the blasted wood refused to give as he yanked hard on it and then his phone which he took out of his pocket fell from his grasp and down crashing as it hit the pavement below. "Dammit," Neal shouted his hand in his hair when he heard the sound of wings and a dove flew over and onto the window sill. A tiny piece of paper was tied to its leg and unraveling it he now held in his hand a postcard with the word broken on it written in dark ink, while on the other side was a picture of the clock tower with the words, "Greetings from Storybrooke."
The last question Neal had ever asked August came back to him, "How will I know when you've succeeded?"
"I'll send you a postcard," was August reply before walking away from Neal's sight and leaving him with nothing but regret as Neal walked down the docks and hailed a cab. "Where to the driver?" asked looking at Neal.
"Wherever's the nearest and cheapest Hotel," Neal answer as the car sped away from the docks. While from the back seat Neal put his head in his hands and wept bitterly for the life he could have had with Emma, and now possible never would.
It didn't take Neal even a second to make the rash, but what he knew was the right choice as he stuffed everything he owned into several bags and ran down the stair pasted the couple who owned the laundry matt that he lived above. Reaching into his pocket, Neal grabbed the keys to his apartment and with a quick explanation and apologizing for not leaving a two weeks' notice. He was out the door and running down the street to purchase a ticket for a bus that would drop him off at the closet bus stop to the town of Storybrooke, Main.
As Neal settled back into his seat across from a guy who was 3 times his size in weight and muscle, he stared out the window as the bus gave a screeching in sound and rolled forward away leaving behind the bright lights and heavy traffic of New, York City. The sound of the rain hitting the windows lolling him off to sleep, just wait for me Emma , I'll find you, I promise I will always find you.