The busy streets of London on a hot summer afternoon, cars drove here and there honking their horns in the process, people walked from street to street, and live went on just as anyone would have imaged it. Alonzo sat in central park drinking coffee as he read the after paper. His life was fairly good p until three years ago when the love of his life, Demeter, was lost to him. She didn't die something much worse. Macavity took her and made her love him. She was frightened of him and wanted nothing to do with him. Every day Macavity took her to the park and every day Alonzo was there working his job, and every day he saw her. With him. It broke his heart even more. He wanted and yet he couldn't have her. But things changed about a year ago. Munkustrap a close friend of Alonzo's saved Demeter's life. He rescued her from the cold harsh hands of Macavity and they've been together ever since. Alonzo wasn't sure if Demeter really loved Munkustrap or if it was a debt she was paying off. Either way he still didn't have her.
Alonzo currently sat on a park bench and read his paper. He did it every day at three o'clock. And every day at 3:05 Demeter and Munkustrap would walk by smiling and laughing with one another. Although it hurt Alonzo to watch the couple he felt better having Demeter with Munkustrap than Macavity. But something would happen every day Demeter would turn her head and look behind for a brief moment then return her attention to Munkustrap. Admetus, Alonzo's best friend came up and joined him on the bench.
"What's in the paper today?" He asked as he looked at Alonzo.
Alonzo continued to watch Demeter and Munkustrap go. Praying that some day he would be able to share the walk with her.
"Hey," Admetus said shoving Alonzo's shoulder. Alonzo turned to him and Admetus asked again, "What's in the paper?"
Alonzo folded it up and handed it to him, "Nothing much." He said then stood and walked the other way. Admetus tucked the paper under his arm and leaped off the bench and ran to catch up with Alonzo. After getting into pace with him Admetus asked, "Why do you come every day anyway?"
Alonzo didn't say anything just kept walking so Admetus continued, "You know she's happy. Let her be happy. At least Munkustrap can stand you so you don't have to worry about him getting jealous about you being alone with her."
Again Alonzo said nothing. This time Admetus didn't say anything. Admetus knew why his friend was hurting, knew why he came here every day, and knew why he didn't open his heart to anyone. It was because his heart was already taken by Demeter. It pained Admetus to see his friend hurting so badly but he knew there was nothing he could do to cheer him up so he just walked alongside him until they exited the park and walked back to their apartment they shared.
Alonzo unlocked the door to their apartment and threw his jacket on the couch and went to his room and shut and locked the door behind him. Admetus picked up Alonzo's jacket from the couch and hung it up on the coat rack then sank into the couch with a deep sigh.
Munkustrap and Demeter continued on their walk on the bright sunny day. Munkustrap was busy talking about something that Demeter didn't care about at all. As she thought to herself, that's all he ever did. Talk about random things that she didn't care about. He then asked a question. Demeter could tell by the way his voice sounded as she thought of Alonzo sitting on the bench reading his paper. When she heard that Munkustrap was no longer talking she looked up at him.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
Munkustrap chuckled, "No, I was just wondering what you were so hardly thinking about. And why you insist that we walk here every day."
Demeter's answer was something she had thought of long ago. She wondered when Munkustrap would finally voice his curiosity. "I wasn't really thinking of anything in particular. And to answer your question of why I like to walk here every day, it's because I like being to go out and get some fresh air. When I was with Macavity he never let me go out. He never let me be me. This is why I walk here every day. Because it's something I like."
Munkustrap grabbed her hand and looked down at them. Demeter was slightly thrown off by this. Munkustrap usually didn't show any sign of public affection. She looked down at their hands and wondered if she would feel any different if it were a black and white hand instead of a silver one. She looked up at him to see that he was looking at her already.
She stopped walking and he looked at her more closely, "Is something wrong?" He asked.
"No," Demeter shook her head, "I'm just happy that you're showing the people of London that you care about me is all."
Munkustrap smiled and leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Demeter smiled at him then continued walking with Munkustrap right beside her.
Three hours had passed since Alonzo and Admetus had come home from the park. Admetus was getting tired of having Alonzo be all gloomy and mobbing. He stood up from his seat on the couch and knocked on his friend's door. When no one answered he knocked again and asked, "Alonzo can I come in? I want to talk to you."
There still was no answer. Admetus turned the door handle to find that it was unlocked. He opened it and looked into his friend's room. His bed was made, no books were on the ground, no clothes out of place, the only thing moving in his room was the curtains blowing in the wind from the open window. Admetus walked over to the window and looked out. No trace of Alonzo anywhere. If he left through the window, he left long ago. Admetus sighed and shut the window then walked back to the living room closing Alonzo's door behind him.
The day was turning to night as the sun feel behind the dark horizon. Alonzo walked the streets of London not really thinking of anything or caring where he went. He rounded a corner and bumped into something. After he registered that he hit something he realized that it wasn't a something but a someone and not just anyone, Demeter.
Alonzo brushed himself off and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine." Demeter said blushing under her golden cheek bones.
Alonzo looked at her not saying anything. Demeter looked at him without saying anything. And although they weren't saying anything verbally they were speaking to each other with their minds and their hearts.
Alonzo yearned to touch her cheek and kiss her lips but his relationship with Munkustrap didn't allow that urge. He was too good of a friend to do something like that.
Demeter looked deep into his gray eyes and saw what she was hoping to see. All she saw was pure love and devotion. The intensity of it made her weak on her feet and she started to fall to the ground but Alonzo put his arms around her and caught her.
"Are you alright?" He asked truly worried about her well being.
"I'm fine," Demeter said blushing even more as she felt his hands on her body holding her not letting her fall.
Alonzo held onto her a moment longer then let her go. The concern and worry turned to embarrassment.
Demeter looked down to her feet wanting to say something but what do you say to something that you know you like but can't be with? How do you not make it weird?
Alonzo spoke, "I'm heading back to my apartment. I'll walk to yours and Munkustrap's if you'd like."
Demeter looked at him. He knew that she lived with Munkustrap? Then it hit her, of course he knew Munkustrap was a good friend of his.
"Sure," Demeter nodded, "I'd like that a lot."
Alonzo offered his arm to her and Demeter kindly wrapped her arm around his. She could feel the strong raw muscle under his shirt and again wondered what they would feel like if they were to hold her again.
The two walked in silence not knowing what to say to the other. Alonzo wanted to tell her that he cared about her but how could he do that without freaking her out or coming off too needy? Demeter wanted to say that she was sorry for not going to him in the first place when she had the chance but what could she say to him now?
They continued to walk in silence and finally reached Demeter and Munkustrap's apartment. Alonzo let removed his arm from Demeter's and she walked up the stairs. He started walking away as she walked up the stairs. Demeter stopped though before she got to the door and turned and said, "Alonzo?"
He stopped and turned to face her. She walked down the stairs and stood in front of him then hugged him tightly. Alonzo at first was surprised then realized that it was Demeter hugging him not some random woman and tightened his hold on her.
Demeter didn't want to let him go. She wanted to hug him, kiss him, touch him, be with him but something pulled at her to stop what she was doing. She knew she couldn't do this to Munkustrap. She pulled away and noticed Alonzo let go of her completely.
"Thank you for walking me home." She said.
"You're welcome." Alonzo said.
Demeter turned and walked back to her apartment door. She unlocked it, opened it, and then looked to her left to see if Alonzo was still standing there. To her disappointment he wasn't. She fully opened the door and stepped inside.