AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first fanfic. Please review if you like/dislike.
Jackie
walked the empty streets. The cold was piercing, freezing her down
through her skin. The sky was gray and stormy, reflecting everything
Jackie was feeling. As if it knew. The trees were bare, exposing the
barren hills and mountains. As she wandered, she spotted a tricycle
on its side, wheel still spinning. A small child was crying not far
away. His mother ran from inside the house, calming the child while
screaming to someone on the phone. Jackie continued down the
street.
Outside another house was a guy who appeared to be just
as freezing as she was. He looked a bit scruffy, as scruffy as you
can look in the middle of the suburbs, in a military jacket and
ratty jeans. He was smoking a cigarette, shivering. Their eyes
connected for a moment. A shiver went through Jackie's entire body.
She couldn't tell if it was from the cold. He reminded her of him. But she had to keep her
pace.
She looked at her wrist, where a watch should have been.
She had no idea what time it was, but Jackie had a feeling she was
late just by looking upward. The sky was darker than it had been 10
minutes ago. She broke out into a run.
Parents with their kids stared at her. Jackie brushed by an elderly man who appeared
disgruntled. She entered the train station with what felt like
moments to spare. Rushing down the steps, she pushed several people
aside. Nearly tripping, she reached the bottom.
He
was there. Jackie loved watching people when they didn't know she
was there. He absentmindedly scratched the back of his neck, peering
to the side. He was looking for the train from around the bend.
Time
stopped, if only for a moment. She called out his name, the loudness
of her cry unimportant, everything worthless but his recognition of
her voice. Jackie ran out to him. His breath visible in the frigid
air, he only stared at her.
"Please come back, Steven.
Please," she begged, her eyes so hopeful, shining over and glossy.
"It's
too late," he responded, his reply startling Jackie. The train had
arrived. But the loud rush was ignored.
"But you have to!
Steven, I made a mistake. A mistake I'll never make again." She
was desperate now.
"I'll be sure of that," his response as
icy as the gusts of wind that surrounded them. Steven began to board
the train.
"But I love you!" she cried, reaching out for his
arm, tears lining her eyes.
"You aren't a part of my life
anymore. I…don't love you, Jackie. I have to go." And with
that, he stepped onto the train just as the doors were closing. He
walked through the compartments, traveling in the opposite direction
of the train's movement. Jackie ran across the platform, feebly attempting to catch up. Steven looked out the window to see her fall to the
ground, hands over her eyes. He looked away, swallowing hard. He felt
sick, a feeling starting at his toes that worked its way up to his
throat. The feeling passed. Stephen Hyde did not feel regret.