A/N: there will be 3 more chapters after this. Each chapter will change in POV. I hope it won't get too confusing.


Numinous /nu-me-nes/: having a mysterious, holy or spiritual quality.

They are 16 and 19 years old.


Regina

It's cold. So cold outside and the bus just won't arrive. You stand, waiting forever, inside the bus shelter, leaning against the wall. Sitting just doesn't seem like an option, what with all the layers of clothing. You fold your arms as a harsh gust of wind blows by. And you suddenly miss your home a lot – you miss Kent.

Yes, it rained constantly over there, and some days were gloomy, some too bright, but it was nothing compared to the cruelty that was this weather. You wondered of all the possible places you could choose to be at, why Vancouver. You are lost in your thoughts, when you see a lone figure walk your way rather hurriedly. You try to figure out if it's a man or a woman, but the amount of clothing and not a single visible part of skin makes it hard. So you just follow this figure and their motion.

Their posture is tight, though the shoulders are slumped and head is bent. Their arms are crossed across their chest, much like yours, but constricted. Their hands form a fist, and you realize the tightness is not because of the cold, but something else. Something like hurt. He or she walks right past you, without so much as noticing, and literally drops on the bench. A wince escapes. The sound - you can possibly, safely assume it is a woman.

She sits there for a while, still and silent. Slowly then, very slowly, her fists loosen and she starts to shake a little. Crying. Oh God she is crying. You don't move a muscle, afraid to intrude on this private time. The poor girl probably doesn't even know you are there. So you just shift your gaze back to the road. From the corner of your eye you can see the shaking subside. You clear your throat, just to inform her of your presence. But she seems to be least bothered.

You see her wipe her eyes and nose with her gloved hand. You rummage through your things and offer her what little you can. You tap her shoulder with the tissue box and hold it in front of her. She lifts her head, staring at the box. Then turns to look at you, questioningly so. Her hazel eyes sparkle from the fresh tears, her fair skin red from the cold and crying.

You clear your throat, "I don't usually carry tissue boxes with me. Just coming back from some shopping." You add a smile at the end. Her return smile is an obligatory gesture. She takes a couple of tissues and thanks you. You offer her the whole box, but she refuses. You are just placing the box back into one of the shoppers when a bus finally rolls to a stop. Two people get off, and just as you are about to board, the driver informs that the buses have been cancelled for that day. You very loudly curse inside your head. When the bus moves away, you place your things on the floor and look for your pair of gloves. As you are putting them on, the girl pulls out her phone and makes a call.

"Hey mom. Yea no everything is alright. Listen the buses have been cancelled. So I am going to walk home ok. It will take me some time."

A pause.

"No mom, no don't come. It's not far. I'll make it, don't worry. Ok bye."

Another pause.

"Yea love you too."

She gets up to leave and you offer the box to her again, "For the road." She accepts it this time, thanks you again and makes her way home.


Emma

The day just couldn't get any worse. Whoever said 'when it rains, it pours' was a downright genius. You feel a rush of emotions. You want to huff and puff, you want to cry, you want to scream, you want to murder the person who just broke your heart, you want to be loved, you want to be left alone, you just want it all to be the same as it was yesterday.

So you walk, and walk without thinking. You remove your beanie and muffler, you take off your gloves and tuck them all inside your coat pockets. A sudden cold runs down your body but you brave it and try not to flinch. You are sure by the time you get home it will numb you enough to make it all bearable. You cross a signal, and notice a few guys sitting on a park bench. You notice how they are alerted by your presence, so you drop your head and attempt to walk past them. They don't let you. Jerks.

"You shouldn't be walking alone in this weather on such empty streets." One of the boy, you guess their 'leader', says.

"None of your god damn business man." You reply as you try to brush past them, because of course they are trying to block as much of the path as possible. "Jesus man. Just move and let me go." You face him, anger welling up inside. Maybe, you decide, it is time to huff and fucking puff.

"Ooo hoo hoo." The boy says, and his friends snigger and cackle. "The girl is trying to be tough."

Thoughts start to formulate as you decide what you should do next, when you hear that same English accent you had just a few minutes before. "Is there a problem here?"

You turn your head and look at her, silently asking her to help you. She gives the smallest of nods and keeps walking towards you.

"Not really. You can move along miss." OH! So she is MISS. Jesus these guys.

"I don't think so." She replies. "I can't possibly leave without her." You look at her again as she comes and stand beside you. This time you are asking her to just let it go and move on. You don't want this stranger to get tangled in your mess.

"And why is that?" He asks, folding his arms and shifting his weight on a leg. Cocky bastard.

"Because she is my girlfriend." Your eyes almost widen in surprise but stop just in time to not give this façade away. "And I told her mom I would get her home in time. So please, if you don't mind, we would like to get going." She wraps her arm around your waist as she stares down the boy. Something in her demeanour must have done the trick, because the boy moves, making just enough way for you two to get through. She utters a very sarcastic 'thank you' as the two of you squeeze past the gang.

You walk in silence, her arms still around your waist, until the boys are out of sight. She lets her arms drop then, and you wish she hadn't. It felt reassuring.

"You should at least put your gloves back on."

"I'm fine." She doesn't press any further. "And what would you have done if they wouldn't have let us go?"

She shrugs. "I know martial arts."

You chuckle and see the side of her lips curl up. The two of you fall into an easy silence as the walk continues. You want to tell her she doesn't need to, but you appreciate the company. The company of a stranger can do wonders. It allows you to be vulnerable, yet you have no fear of being exploited.

From time to time you let yourself cry. She just walks quietly beside you, an anonymous support. She offers your chocolate at one point and a biscuit at another. You refuse both, and still she doesn't say anything.

You stop on the pavement in front of your house. "This is me. Thank you. For, you know, walking me home."

"Chivalry isn't entirely dead." It makes you smile

"Thanks again."

"My pleasure. Take care of yourself." You start to make your way towards the house, when you hear her say "He's not worth it." You don't turn completely. Just your head to acknowledge her words. "He is not worth your tears. No one is, if they don't respect and appreciate what they have."

"What if it's me?"

"Somehow I doubt that. Just do me a favour ok. Don't cry over him, don't take any decisions based on this hurt. It won't do you any good. Don't let him reduce your worth."

From the corner of your eye you can see her still standing, shifting from one leg to another, probably wondering if more needs to be said, or if you are going to say something. When no one speaks, she starts to leave.

"Her. It's not him, it's her."

She stops just long enough to say, "Doesn't change what I said. Not worth it."

And this stranger, this girl who gave you minor comfort for a while walks away, taking away a part of the pain that was weighing you down. Making you feel a little freer than before.

Strangers eh.


A/N: Criticism and comments much appreciated. If the whole POV deal is confusing, do tell. I will try to figure it out for the future chapters. Also if you didn't get it yet, Regina is of English descent. Also I hope I haven't offended anyone with the 'eh' in the end (Some Canadians once did get offended by my use of 'eh' in a previous fic). It's one of those things I say, but I know most Canadians don't, but some do. And I seem to be one of those.