Against Time

I came back home and told Andrew about my decision, and he helped me finding a flight to NY. But everything was full, it was almost New Year, and everybody wanted to spend it at Times Square… damn it. I had to be on the waiting list, hoping someone would give up, I wanted to get there before new year…

It was already New Year's Eve morning, I was considering renting a car and driving there, I guess if I was Lucky I could get to NY by night... but the phone rang, there was an available flight at night, I would get there very late but there was no other option.

My brother took me to the airport, and I caught the flight, which was delayed, obviously. When I finally got to NY, it was almost 9 pm. It was raining a lot, and by the time I found a cab, I was soaked. When the cab driver asked for the address, I looked for it in my pocket, but when I got it, the paper almost fell apart because of the rain, I couldn't read anything anymore. Now what? I got my cell to call Matt and asked for the address again, but the battery had died. I asked the driver to leave me in a hotel and then I'd see what I would do. We finally found a hotel with vacancy, wich was a miracle, I left my stuff there and called Matt from the reception.

"Matt, I need your sister's address in NY.

"I had given to Andrew David, didn't he give you?"

"Yes, but I lost it Matt, it's urgent please!"

He told me the address and I wrote it down.

"Are you going to New York, Dave?"

"No Matt, I AM in New York, and I'm going after Anne now. And if by any chance you talk to her before I find her and tell her this, you're a dead man."

"I'll shut up."

"Happy New Year, Matt."

I hang up and ran to the street, it was gonna be impossible to find another cab, and even if I did, it would be impossible to move, everything was a chaos. I checked the address, unbelievable, it was close to Times Square... it was not too far away, I could walk there... I checked the clock, 11:10... I tried to walk fast, but it was impossible... I pushed people, but there were many, I felt I wouldn't be able to find Anne before midnight... when I finally got close to Times, the crowd was unbearable. When I finally found her street, I ran as fast as I could until her building, there were 5 minutes left. I rang the intercom but nobody answered, it could be broken, but actually I doubted she would be home in New Year, but it doesn't hurt to try. Someone opened the door to get out, so I got in. I heard the person complaining, but I didn't care. I ran upstairs, by the time I got to her door, I was panting.

I rang the doorbell and knocked a lot of times, and nothing happened. There was some light coming out from under the door. I tried to open the door and it did, I got in, the TV was on.

"ANNE!"

She didn't answer, I quickly looked around, she was nowhere. I checked my watch, 2 minutes left... she couldn't have gone too far... I considered going to the terrace, she might have gone there to see the fireworks despite of the rain, it was my last alternative, if she wasn't there I'd never find her on time…

I ran there, when I got to the terrace I looked around, there were a few people there, but nobody I wanted to see. I was getting desperate when I looked at the edge of the terrace my heart stopped for a moment. There she was, looking down, soaked. I could not see her face, but I knew it was her, she was wearing a shirt I had given her. I walked towards her, now there was less than 1 minute left. I wondered if that was the right thing, if I wasn't rushing things, but seeing her there, closer to me, I had no doubts anymore.

I stopped behind her, checked my watch, 12 seconds, I took a deep breath.

"Are you still waiting?"

She was petrified. She turned around slowly, and when she saw me, it was like she had been punched in the stomach. She looked at me from top to bottom, I was breathless, but smiled. She opened her mouth, tried to say something, but it didn't come out. Then, I heard her whispering.

"Always."

I heard a noise, a firework was exploding in the sky, when I looked back at her, she was also looking up. In that one second I stared at her, all the anger I might still be feeling disappear with the rain, all that mattered was that we were there, together.

I went towards her, fireworks were exploding, I grabbed her face and waist and kissed her. At that moment, I felt everything that had happened was disappearing from my mind, feeling her lips, her skin, her scent, made me forget all the rest, I had missed her so much… I had to be strong not to take of her clothes there, I wanted to have her right now… I felt I was soaked, I should be shaking, but I felt my body on fire… I didn't wanna stop, I wanted to stay there forever, I held her really close to me and didn't wanna let her go…

After a while, I don't even know how long, I held her and whispered...

"Happy New Year."