Time seemed to slow as Brian turned down the hall. Several guards clothed like SWAT members were firing at them. He turned back to Sadira and Jamal as he threw himself on the ground. As he did, he felt Jamal roughly grab on to his wrist. Brian tightly closed his eyes, and the blasts from the gunfire echoed and sparked as they disappeared.

When Brian opened his eyes again, they were all three spread out across a sandy dune. It looked like they weren't too far away from the camp, but he couldn't be sure. He saw Jamal and Sadira already sitting up, and he carefully pushed himself up too. His body still felt extremely weak, but at least he could move a little now.

_________________________________________________________________________

"Ok, let's do this." Sadira said. "We need to take this down from the top." She said, pausing.

"Wait!" Brian said in protest. "There's something I want to do first."

"Brian, we don't have enough time!" Sadira hissed.

"Please. It will only take me five minutes." Brian pleaded.

"Fine…Go and come back as soon as you can." She said with a waving gesture.

Brian looked between her and Jamal. "I want to do this in person," He said slowly.

"What?! Why?" Sadira demanded.

Jamal raised his hands. "I will take him. Five minutes." He said with his heavy accent.

"Oh alright." Sadira said, leaning back on to the dusty ground. "Just try and hurry, please." She said.

Brian smiled and in a flash, they were gone.

__________________________________________________________________

Brian struggled to remain standing as Jamal gripped his shoulder. He took in a deep breath as he looked around. He knew he didn't have much time, but these precious few moments meant the world to him.

The two stood on the walk up to his house. Neither of his parent's cars was in the driveway, but he could see a light on in the house. This was unusual for late afternoon. Brian began walking towards the front and stopped to look in the window closest to him.

What he saw made him freeze. Directly under the window, in perfect view of him, sat a little boy playing loudly with a toy machine of sorts. As Brian squinted in to get a better view, his mother walked into the living room. She wore a smile much larger and much more sincere than he had seen in years. As she approached, the small child reached out his arms to her a gave a gleeful shout for 'Mommy!' Brian gasped.

He watched silently as his Mother reached down and scooped the child up off the cream colored carpet.

The sound of a car pulling up mad Brian dodge out of the way, hidden in the shadows behind the oversized flower pots that sat decoratively in front of his former home. He watched as a silver SUV pulled up, and a forty-something man walked out jovially clad in a navy blue suit. He loosened his tie as he walked, and walked right in the front door.

"Hi, sweetheart," Was heard coming from within the house along with the child squealing for his daddy.

Feeling wounded, Brian stood up in front of the windows, staring in.

The man spotted him. He whispered to his wife, whom he was embracing, if she knew the kid outside. Confused, she turned around. Her hazel eyes locked with Brian's for a moment, then she quickly turned away.

"No," She said. She walked over and closed the curtains, repeating the 'no' over to herself again as her footsteps faded away from the door.

With a hollow look, Brian turned to face Jamal, who had also been hiding in the shadows. "Let's try the next place," He murmured.

Jamal merely nodded as he took hold of Brian's shoulders.

_______________________________________________________

When they arrived several seconds later, Jamal immediately asked where they were. Brian explained that there was one last person he wanted to see, and this is where he would find her. Before them sat the coffee shop closest to Kelly's house.

With a deep breath, they walked in.

Brian's gaze drifted around the store, from table to table, and he did not see what he had hoped to find. Kelly.

Jamal excused himself to go buy a drink and Brian took a seat near the door. He slumped back into the wooden chair and ran his fingers through his now quite long dirty blonde hair. While in this position he sighed.

As he was leaned back, the bell on the door rang as someone entered.

A familiar laugh drifted back to his ears. Brian bit his lip as he slowly brought his head up and brought her into his view. What he saw was sadly what he had half expected. Kelly was wrapped in the arms of some older guy. Her head was thrown back in laughter, as her thin arms were wrapped around his waist.

Then, Jamal returned, paper cup of coffee in hand. He dark eyes shifted towards the two grinning teens as he walked back to where Brian sat. His gaze shifted between Brian and the couple a mere few yards away. With a downcast look, Brian stood.
"Let's go." He said disappointment strung through his voice. He pushed his way out of the clear glass doors of the store, and was followed by Jamal, who patiently sipped his steaming latte.

__________________________________

Within the coffee shop, Kelly paused in her laughing. That voice behind her sounded so familiar. She turned around to see a tall, thin, blonde hair guy about her age leaving, with a look upon his face as if his entire world had died. Behind him walked an older, African man who seemed quite content to just drink his coffee ad made no move to comfort the boy. He looked so oddly familiar. The boy, not the African man. She paused, her head cocked slightly as she stared at their departing figure. Then she remembered.

She remembered those years ago, the police. The rain. His declared love and promise to return. The tears that had followed for many days afterward. The long-lasting remarks made at school. She had been labeled as the rumors spread like wildfire. The pain. Kelly sharply inhaled her breath. She pushed herself free from her boyfriend's gentle grip and turned and while her gaze remained locked on the long lost figure outside, she began to walk towards them.

As she opened the door, the tiny bell atop of it gave a cheerful chime. At the noise he looked back at her. They locked eyes. She mouthed his name as he gave a sad smile.

"I came back." He whispered. "And I still love you," He added. Of course, he was too far away for her to hear him, but she could see him as he mouthed it.

Then with another mournful smile, he disappeared.

Kelly stared at shock to the place where he had disappeared.

"Hey," Her boyfriends said, coming up behind her. "What was that?" He questioned, whispering in her ear.

She looked up at him, then back at the spot on the pavement. Had it really happened? Or just long forgotten mental scars resurfacing?

She smiled as she looked up at him again. "An old friend, I think…," She said, trailing off.

___________________________________________

"So, did you see what you wanted to see?" Sadira questioned. She sat on the dusty mound they had left her only minutes before.

"No." Brian stated. 'I saw what I need to see,' He thought.

Sadira shrugged. "You ready?" She asked.

Brian nodded. "I want to do this my way," He said.

Sadira looked at him, concerned. "Do you know what you're doing?" She demanded.

Brian bit his lip and nodded. "I think I do."

Though she looked hesitant, Sadira nodded. She leaned over and gave Brian a hug. "Good luck," She whispered as she let go.

Brian maintained his sad smile as he waved good bye and closed his eyes. It would be the last time he saw them…