Chapter 02: Without You
"Hey Miss! Hey! Stop!"
Rosa felt a strong pair of hands pull her back.
"Have you lost your mind? What's wrong with you?"
"Let. Me. Go. Why did you pull me up?" screamed Rosa at her rescuer, still facing the water.
"Whatever your reason, that wasn't the best thing to do." He yelled back pointing at the water body.
"You don't know me! You don't know what happened to me. Don't you dare…"
Rosa stopped abruptly as she turned around and came face to face with a pair of blue eyes.
"I know I don't know you but dying isn't going to help. Please miss." He pleaded.
Rosa lost her composure and hugged him, crying uncontrollably.
"He left… He just left. I d-didn't even get a chance to stop him."
He quietly held her in his arms, a little unsure as to how to help her. This wasn't something he had planned for. Plan for? He hadn't even been trained for something like this. He was just a soldier returning home. He looked at her. She was young; about eight to ten years younger than he was. She wasn't very tall either, but her hair was beautiful as it fell down her shoulders. Suddenly he realized that she was shivering. He took off the black leather jacket he was wearing and put it around her.
"I'm sorry," he began, "I really am. I wish I could help."
Rosa stepped away from his arms, as soon as his words cut through her haze. Her tears had wet the white t-shirt he was wearing underneath. She took a look at the man standing in front of her. His blue eyes reminded her of him. He had cropped hair and his dog togs were hanging from his neck. His face seemed a little worried as if he was unsure about what she would do next. She decided to apologise and leave.
"No, I'm sorry. I r-ruined your shirt."
"It's okay. It really is. Can I walk you somewhere?"
"No! I mean, I have caused you enough trouble." Rosa replied earnestly.
"I insist. Let's just get you home safe okay?"
It was late and having some company would help her. She dreaded going back alone, to the empty apartment. But this man was a stranger. She didn't know if she should trust him, but then again, he had saved her.
As if he could read her mind, he said, "You can trust me. I'm a British soldier."
His face was kind. However she was still confused. She had trusted Simon and he had left her. Now, she thought that she might as well trust a stranger.
"Strangely, I do trust you. Let's go." replied Rosa.
"Hey umm miss? Could we stop to eat somewhere? I am a bit hungry." He said, trying hard not to sound like a jerk. Surely his hunger was way down priority list now.
"Come back to my place er…"
"John."
"Yea, I could fix something for you John. It's the least I could do," said Rosa forcing a smile.
John Smiled back at her and started walking beside her.
Rosa lay on her bed, trying hard to get some sleep. It had been three months since Simon had left. There was still no sign of him. There wasn't even a single message from him. She had almost convinced herself that he had gone away, perhaps never to return. She didn't know what to do. Then there was John. He had saved her and he would call once every couple of days or so to make sure she was okay. She let it go to the answering machine most of the time. She didn't feel like talking much.
She had to get herself together and accept that she would have to life without him otherwise she would go truly crazy. He; it hurt her too much to even say his name, wasn't the kind of guy who wouldn't send her a message. Atleast once.
The pain in her heart wasn't violent as before; now it was a steady continuous throbbing like an open wound. Would it ever heal? Just then, the phone rang, breaking her train of thoughts. She let it go to the answering machine.
"Hey Rosa! It's me, again. I hope you are okay, or atleast better. Did he er call? I wish you would pick up once."
Rosa decided that it was very rude of her to keep on trying to avoid him. What had happened with him was not John's fault. She answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey! Thanks for picking up."
"I'm sorry. I have…"
John cut her off.
"You don't have to apologise you know. It's okay. I understand."
Tears welled up in her eyes. It had been so wrong of her to be rude to him. He was nice, real nice to her.
"Rosa, are you okay?"
"Yea, thanks. Uh John?"
"Yea, go on."
"Why do you care about what happens to me? Even after i've been so rude to you?"
There was absolute silence on the other side of the phone. Rosa checked her phone. Nope, the call was still connected.
"John?"
"I… I don't know. It just feels right."
Rosa did not reply. She just kept quiet.
"Are you sure you're fine? Do you want me to bring some soup?"
"No thanks. I'm ok."
"Sure?"
"Yea. I just wanna be alone tonight. Sort out a few things."
John stayed silent for a while before replying.
"Okay. Well if you need anything, give me a call. Whenever. 'kay?"
"I will. Thanks for everything."
"Don't mention it. Try to get some sleep Rosa. Take care."
He disconnected the call. Rosa turned to face the balcony. All the events were taking a toll on her. She was tired but for the first time in months, she felt that things were going to be fine.
"I am without you Simon. But it feels so strange now. I never thought you'd leave, but you did. I never thought I'd live without you, but I am living, little by little every day. I think I am going to be fine Simon. I think I am going to fine without you…"