Part One: Love & Cigarettes

"Do you mind if I smoke?" she asked with a cough.

"No, go ahead." I said as calmly as I could, taking a sip of the coffee in front of me.

She dug through her small purse and pulled out a crumpled up package of cigarettes. She plucked one out and gracefully slipped it between her lips. Taking a lighter out of the cigarette carton, she bent low, one hand covering for wind, and lit the end of the cigarette. Closing her eyes she inhaled, and then slowly as if trying extra hard to hold it in, she finally exhaled. Opening her eyes again she glanced at me, looking at me from head to toe, as she had done three times already since we sat down. The weight of her gaze made me uneasy, as i figited with my skirt, trying to pull it to cover my knees. We were sitting on the pattio of a small cafe, it was near the end of summer, so the sun was warm, but there was a cool breeze blowing through. A beautiful day to sit outdoors. I cleared my throat and aimed my best confidant smile at her, "Shall we begin then?"

She nodded, taking another puff of the cigarette. "Where do you want me to start?"

I blinked, slightly confused. "Well at the beginning of course."

She gave an odd smile, one that produced wrinkles around her eyes, giving away her age and expirience. "My dear," she said slowly, "not all stories start at the beginning. The good ones, start before the beginning."

I took out my note pad and folded the cover over, "You know best where to start, it is after all... your story."

"Mmm" Her attention diverted to the window, and her eyes glazed over. It seemed as if she was looking at nothing, but seeing everything.

"Is it really my story?" she asked. I wasn't sure if she was asking me or herself, so I didn't answer. She tapped her cigarette on the ashtray. "I guess I'm the only one left to tell it..." She trailed off. Her eyes flicked back to the window. Was she staring at her own reflection? She started to speak again...

"Some people say that love is what saves us, others say it is what destroys us. In my expirience it can do both. Sometimes seeking salvation, we incur destruction. Was it chance? Was it fate? I don't think anyone will ever really know the answer..."

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!The Story Begins!

!Del!