Dear readers,

I am writing this story in my mother tongue (German) which is posted for reading at a German FF page.
I just had the idea that it would be nice if also international fans could read that so I started translating it into English.
As English isn't my first language I apologize for every appearing mistake!
I don't have any help with the translation and no Beta reader and even though I think that my English is pretty good there are of course mistakes ;)
Well, as it is a lot of work for me to translate the whole story it will take some time for me to update. After all I also have to continue the story in German.
If you like the beginning you know what to do if you want me to continue ;)

Oh, and if somebody of you would like to help me with the translation and/ or Beta reading please feel free to send me a message!

Enjoy and a Happy New Year to all of you!

Dumai

1. Chapter: Hurt

It was a wonderful fall day in New Orleans. The leaves of the trees in the alley were already colored in bright orange and still it seemed that the sun hasn't lost its panache from the summer. The birds sang dreamily their songs and enjoyed the last few warmer days until the winter was finally going to return.
The streets were full of people which could be easily noticed by the blowing horns of angry car drivers which appeared every few seconds.
Completely lost in thoughts a young woman observed all that things while she was standing with a warm cup of tea in front of her window. Her light shaky hands tightly clenched around it. With a closer look it was pretty easy to notice that she wasn't in a good mood.
Her shoulder-length maroon hair was much disheveled and proved another sleepless night. The normally beautiful looking curl had for a considerable time now lost its natural brilliance.
She hadn't left her apartment for days now. What for? A few days ago she had lost her job in the company and even though she always tried to find something new nobody was giving her a chance. She couldn't understand why after all. Since today she only got one invitation for a job interview and even though she thought that the boss of that company liked her she hadn't heard of him till yet. Actually he promised to contact her – no matter what decision he made. She nearly got crazy. Her whole life was going to crash.
Furthermore the loss of her job wasn't the most horrible thing after all. She also lost her boyfriend and as much as she tried to hate Sascha she had to confess that she really missed him. That was pretty normal, wasn't it? After all their relationship lasted for about two years. Since the beginning she had a weird feeling about that man but still she ignored it. He had been so friendly, very obliging and seemed reasonable. Before him she had never met someone who was that different – in a positive way. They had so many commonalities and in the end she always hoped that she could spend the rest of her life with Sascha but then he did something which disappointed her so much. The typical cliché… After all the beautiful time he betrayed her and she had caught him while he was together with that other woman. She wasn't sure if she could ever erase that picture from her brain. Well, at least it wasn't her bed – it was his. A short time before that happened she asked him what he thinks about moving together but he always said that this wasn't the right time to talk about something like that. At least she now knew why.
Disgustedly Daria shook her head. If she thought about the scene with him and that foreign woman in his bed – which was for sure irrevocable stuck in her brain – made her already feel sick again. The way Sascha looked at her. His eyes had been full of sorrow and even though it seemed like he was filled with regret he did that to her. Sascha begged her to forgive him and promised her that this other woman wasn't important for him – not as much as Daria was to him. Daria stopped counting how many times he tried to call her and how many text messages he sent to her in which he tried to get her back. Once he also talked at her voice mailbox and it was easy to notice that he was nearly crying. Daria had never heard his voice being so broken and hurt.
The young woman just couldn't believe that he really tried to get her back while trying to get her feel bad. He should ask himself who actually destroyed their relationship. He had known that she was very sensitive if it came to cheating on each other – who wasn't? Sascha had known that unfaithfulness was one reason for her which ended a relationship without any discussion. In that case it didn't matter how much time you spent together. He knew the risk and still he betrayed her – it was his fault. But why had Daria that feeling that this break up of their relationship was much harder for her than for him?
Anyway, she could not allow herself to get weak now. In no case. Luckily his tries to get her back had become more less and since three days she hadn't heard from him. Did he finally give up? She really hoped so cause it started to get very annoying. Daria just wanted to forget him as fast as possible – even though that was going to be much harder as imagined.
Darias blue-green eyes closed for a short moment and she sighed in an irresolute way. As much as she wished to have somebody who was always there for her and with whom she could spend the rest of her life she made a decision. Maybe this decision was completely crackbrained but for now she needed something which she could get hold on. She would never ever again fall for a man. She just couldn't take it anymore to get hurt again and again. All men are assholes, she repeated in her head all the time. Maybe she would believe in that after some time. Of course she knew that she couldn't say that about every man in the world but for now she decided not to let a man in her life for a longer time. It was very important to her that she could stay away from all that problems caused by that for a while. That was much better for her health and her nerves. After all the life of a single wasn't that bad and had a lot of good things.

So that she wasn't completely lost in her dreaming world the not that tall woman decided first of all to take a shower so that she could clean her thoughts. Daria was a slim woman who turned twenty-five at the beginning of august. For now already five years she was living here in New Orleans in her little three-room apartment. It was enough for her and anyway she couldn't pay for more – especially after she lost her job. The quarter which she lived in was a bit outside of the center but still she could be in the middle of the town in a few minutes. For her taste it was perfect because in the center of the city it was too loud for her and after all she couldn't pay the rent prices.
After a hot and long shower she took her white shower towel which laid on her washbasin and put it around her body. After cleaning her fogged mirror she looked at herself in a very thoughtful way. She had to confess to herself that she really looked bad. Because of that less sleep in the last few weeks her eyes seemed empty and vacuous. Her whole face seemed tired and droopy. Well, at least she felt much better now after the shower.
After blowing and brushing her hair it already seemed to be much more shiny and voluminous. In her tight-fitting jeans and her light sweater she also felt much better now. For her taste she spends definitely too much time in her sweatpants because she rarely left her apartment. Until now she just wasn't able to get back her motivation for it – but now she decided to change something about that.
Finally – after putting on some make-up – she took her leather jacket and her keys and left her apartment after nearly an infinity.
For a short time she paused as the fresh and pretty cold air touched her face. She had to confess that she really missed that feeling. This freedom. Luckily she had to buy some things today because her fridge was nearly empty – without that pressure she maybe would still be at home at her couch in the living room.

After a slow round through the nearest supermarket she made her way back to her apartment – with a good filled shopping bag. For the beginning she didn't want to exaggerate anything but somehow she started to enjoy being outside again. Tomorrow she wanted to go outside again but still she didn't know what to do then. Anyway, she was sure that something would come to her mind.
As she finally reached the alley – which was near her apartment – it was already nearly completely dark. The tall broad-leafed trees at the left and the right from the way rocked silently in the wind and the swoosh of the less remaining leaves comforted Daria. Even though it was Friday evening she rarely met anyone which was very strange after all.

Suddenly she heard something rustling at her side and furthermore she had the feeling that somebody just sighed in a weak way. Irritated by that Daria stopped and looked around but she couldn't see anybody. In that position she waited for a while and listened exerted in the darkness but still she couldn't hear anything. Had she just imagined that? Damn, why had this alley to be so badly lighted? Otherwise she could have maybe found the cause for the noises.
She just wanted to continue walking home because she now felt more and more uncomfortable but then the noise came back. This time no rustling but a sigh. It was much louder now and it sounded very painfully.
"Hello?", she asked feeling insecure through the darkness. No answer.
Now a bit frightened Daria looked around and hoped that also somebody else would be around but she was all alone. Under this circumstances she would have felt much more save if she would have had her clasp-knife with her which she once bought in Bern in Switzerland as a souvenir a few years ago.
Somebody coughed – this time she was sure. She could actually say that this noise belonged to a man and it came from the left direction. Suddenly her sight fell at a special tree at this side and if she really concentrated she saw a blurred outline which was leaning against that tree.
"Hello? Do you need help?", Daria wanted to know again and declared herself as completely stupid immediately afterwards for that question cause it was not necessary after she heard that painful noises.
Initially she seemed to be palsied but then she recollected herself again and walked straight to the silhouette. First of all fainthearted but soon she just couldn't stand her own curiosity anymore and she finally lost the control over her feet. It felt like some kind of undertow which she couldn't resist anymore. Carefully she got down on her knees and looked at the person who leaned there against the tree.
In front of her there was as guessed a man – about thirty-five or something – who entangled his chest with his arm. He trembled and his face looked like a painful antic.
First Daria didn't notice what the reason for that pain could be but there were already worry lines at her forehead. Her fear was now completely gone. Did dishonest people wear suits with a tie? She didn't believe in that or at least she had another imagine of dangerous people. The man in front of her had disengaged his blue tie a bit and his raven-black hair stuck at his forehead because of some sweat.
Just now she noticed his shirt. Due to the fact that it actually was completely white she now saw – after looking more closely – that there was a bloodstain which grew constantly larger. Because of his black jacket she hadn't noticed that earlier cause it covered the largest part of his shirt.
Daria was in such a shock that she just dropped her shopping bag and put her hands in front of her mouth. Damn, there was no time for such a thing right now – she had to call an ambulance and that fast.
This one thought – which was very alarming – brought her back to reality. With now shaking hands she tried to get her cell phone out of her bag which was more difficult under these circumstances as imagined. Finally she had it out of her bag and wanted to call the emergency as a rough hand gripped her wrist which caused Daria to spend her whole attention to the man.
"No ambulance. I… don't need that", the man groaned and looked at her with a begging sight.
"What? As much blood as you are losing right now you will be dead in a few minutes if I don't call the ambulance", Daria answered quiet shocked and started right into his dark eyes.
Suddenly it hit her. This guy was actually a criminal, wasn't he? Maybe escaped from prison? Did he rob a bank? Somehow this didn't make any sense. Besides – why did he wear a suit if he just escaped from prison? But right now she just couldn't find any other explanation in her mixed up thoughts. Due to what other reason should he beg her not to call an ambulance?
"Listen, I have no idea what happened to you but you won't survive this much longer and I won't make myself punishable due to neglected assistance after accident", she explained to him in a very hauntingly tone and she hoped that she could get him back to his sanity.
She couldn't explain it to herself but somehow there was something about him which appeared trustworthy. Of course she thought about the possibility that this guy was an escaped criminal but to be honest to herself she didn't believe in that theory actually. His eyes still looked at her in an observant way and she couldn't stop herself from noticing that these eyes were just breathtaking – even though they were clouded with pain and sorrows. Jesus, concentrate!, she exhorted herself.
"Please, just trust me. I can handle that… by my own", the hurt man said with such a solid voice as he could. Still this didn't sound convincing or even satisfying.
Deep within Daria was still fighting with herself. What should she do now? He said she should trust him but how if he was dying?! She never studied medicine and still she knew that he would be dead in a few minutes because he was losing so much blood. Was this guy completely crazy? Oh my god, maybe he actually wanted to die!, she thought. But why? A man like him didn't kill himself. Shit, I need to be more objective, she told herself again.
"What do you suggest then?", she asked him helplessly and examined his nearly completely red shirt.
He tried to smile but it was very weak and it seemed like he wanted to calm her down – which didn't work after all. Not even a bit. The grip around her wrist tightened a bit and she looked him again straight into his eyes.
"Just leave me here. You don't need to care about me. I am going to be fine soon I guess."
Daria couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was this guy kidding? This man was definitely completely crazy! Tired of life!
"Are you insane? I will definitely not leave you while you are in that condition! I… can't… I…", Daria stammered now completely frantic until the foreign guy put his free hand at her cheek to relax her a bit.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine", he assured her and this time it at least sounded a bit more convincing. It was really funny that he tried to calm her down because actually it should be the other way round as he was the one who was nearly dead.
"But how?", Daria countered with a such a silent voice that even she herself could only barely hear it.
His hand at her cheek felt so pleasant and in no way wrong – as she thought in the first moment. It was impossible for her to explain but it just appeared to her to be the most normal thing right now. Like they knew each other for years already. Even though his hand was cold as ice – which was of course caused by the by the high loos of blood – she felt a special kind of warmth under his touch. If any other man would have touched her that way she had slapped his hand away.
"Well, I don't want to cause any discomfort but if you get a better conscience if you take me home with you – and it isn't too awkward for you – you could do that to help me. And as soon as I feel better I will of course leave so that you will never ever see me again. I promise", he suggested as he took back his hands and put them again around his stomach. What the hell was happening to that guy?
Daria didn't need to think about if she should accept his offer or not because her decision was already made only after a few seconds. She didn't know him, she had never seen him before but it didn't matter to her. She had to help him and if that was the only possibility for her to do so she did it with great pleasure. Stranger or not it was something about him that made her trust in him and she had the feeling that he wouldn't disappoint her.
Right then the last sentence of this guy came back to her mind. Did she actually want that he would just disappear as soon as he's better? But would he at least live that long so that she could see him again after all what happened? Somehow she believed in him – that he would survive this. Wow, again I am lost in my thoughts, she noticed.
"Alright then. At least I can do something for you. Come on, I will help you", Daria said while she put carefully an arm around his waist so that he could prop himself while walking. He was much taller than her and of course pretty heavy for her to handle but she tried her best especially as she noticed that it really helped him.
"What's your name?", she now suddenly wanted to know whereupon the stranger looked again at her eyes. Was that a gentle amusing smile which passed his lips?
"Elijah", he replied very politely.
"Okay, Elijah. It's alright just use me to support yourself. We are near my apartment – it won't take long. You will make it", she encouraged him and afterwards the uneven couple started to move in a very slow pace.