Chapter Thirty-Seven
Within seconds, she heard movement behind the door and then it opened.
A man she barely recognized stood before her. Of course her was just as tall, but slightly slimmer. His hair seemed less healthy, missing that shine it once had. He seemed like he hadn't shaved in days, a light beard growing on his face.
Mostly she was caught of guard by his eyes, which were hard and void of emotion.
"Jasper?" she asked as if she needed verification.
Nothing in his demeanor changed.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, but..."
She couldn't bring herself to speak when he looked at her like that, like she was nobody.
"I'm sorry," she concluded with a shake of her head. "I should not have come."
Her body turned and she walked away from the scene. She thought that war had changed her. She never thought of how much it could really change a person. Jasper was a different man.
"Then why did you?" he asked, his raw voice making its first appearance.
She glanced back briefly.
"I was in the neighborhood," she murmured.
"The event?"
She nodded.
"How have you come here?"
"I took the bus."
"You live in Texas?"
"No, I don't."
"Then where?"
"Houston."
"That's also a train ride."
"Yes, I took the train as well."
"I hope the event was worth such a trip. Goodbye."
"I really didn't make the trip for the event. Goodbye."
She walked away but heard a shuffle behind her.
"What is it?" she asked when he appeared beside her with a large backpack.
"It's a bit of a walk to the bus stop, is it not? I'll walk with you."
"Oh, if you want, thanks," she said.
The first minute they were both quiet.
"Four years later and we're both alive," Alice first said.
Then the second minute of silence followed.
"I'm sorry to have disturbed your evening," she eventually said, staring straight ahead of her at the busstop.
"Of course."
The third minute went by when both said nothing and Alice was mortified.
She heard a beep. Her eyes widened, as now she wanted to die in mortification. The beep came from her wrist, as it was the watch she still wore every day. It's batteries were perfect, never having stopped once.
There was a second beep quickly after the first and she brought her confused gaze to where that sound came from.
His wrist. He also still wore the watch.
"Would you like it back?" she instantly asked, her hand already on her wrist to take off the watch.
His hand stopped her and her breathing hitched.
"Keep it. It's very little, after all. Besides, four years later and you still wear it? I wouldn't dare to take it from you if it's important to you."
She smiled gently as she raised her eyes to him. She was less embarrassed now that she knew that she wasn't the only one still wearing it.
"This thing saved my life that day," she said. "Your friend brought me to safety."
He nodded once.
"And you?" she asked quickly, for she saw the bus arriving.
"I'm safe," he only said.
"Are you really?" she insisted. "A life on the streets after serving for your country? Is that safety? Aren't you worthy of more?"
"Your bus arrived," he said stiffly, waving his hand so the bus driver would know he needed to stop.
"This can't be it," she breathed. "It can't end like this. There should be more."
"Go back to your friends, darlin'," he said, a smile which did not touch his eyes.
The bus stopped but Alice grabbed his arm hard. He turned his head in surprise.
"What friends?" she asked in a hard voice.
"In or out?" the bus driver called when he opened the door.
"In," Jasper called.
"I'm glad you said it," she agreed, dragging him with her into the bus.
She gave the driver ten dollars and pointed up two fingers to indicate she was paying for Jasper was well. He gave her back two dollars.
Jasper looked back in horror as the doors closed and the driver started the bus.
"Hey, I need to get out," he said.
"Don't listen to him," Alice told the bus driver. "He's just being silly."
She pulled him with her to the end of the bus and sat by the window. He sat down beside her and glared. She quickly looked outside in fear. She'd never seen him so angry.