Come on, it really was over.
Goren would never see Alex again.
This little girl who had brightened his life, and who had become a real woman with him.
Alex had given him everything.
Her body, her heart, her will to live, without ever asking for anything other than to be loved by him.
And he had loved her...
He loved her like crazy.
Goren owed him everything.
And he couldn't imagine going on without her by his side.
She had taught him what it was to love life, and to believe in it.
But Jonathan Eames had destroyed all his illusions of happiness.
He no longer believed in anything.
He'd lost everything by losing the only flame he loved.
Alex.
Goren looked up at the sky, which was black and starless.
He put his hands in his pockets and continued walking aimlessly down the street.
He remembered the evening when he and Alex had gone up to the roof to look at the stars.
And he'd seen her watching him, rather than listening to him.
And even without realizing it, she'd already taken his heart.
At this memory, his heart clenched, and tears welled up in his eyes, veiling without sight.
Alex was that star in her life.
She had appeared so quickly.
And disappeared just as quickly.
But now it was too late.
He'd lost Alex.
The only person who was important to him.
His little lassie, as he affectionately called her.

Alex had succeeded in doing what no other person had.
She had made him happy, brightening and giving meaning to his life.
And now he had nothing.
Worst of all, he hadn't been able to tell her the real reason he'd left.
And that cry she'd made when she'd called him, asking him not to leave her.
If he'd listened to himself, he'd have gone back and kidnapped her in front of her father and brothers.
But he couldn't.
Alex wouldn't have been happy if they'd run away.
She would have lost everything to follow him, and he would never have allowed that.
Tears slid down his cheeks, and he clenched his fists until his knuckles were white.
- Hey... Boy.
At this insistent pressure of her fingers on his arm, he wiped the tears from his wrist, and looked down, to see a middle-aged man with the glassy eyes of his drunken people.
- Why were you crying... .
My goodness...
The man reeked of alcohol, and the half-empty bottle in his hand confirmed that it wasn't his imagination, and that he was drunk.
Goren shook off the man's hand in annoyance and walked away.
- Go on, tell Uncle your woes.
What.
Tell that drunk his woes, surely not.
And what did he have to stick it to him like that.
Coming back at him like that.

- Go drink your wine... and leave me alone.
Goren went on his way, trying to ignore him, but the alcoholic was still there, sticking to him.
- Could it be a woman...
At her words, Goren twitched.
He stopped, turned to the man, an evil smile on his lips, and grabbed him by the collar.
- You'd better drink... and shut up.
He let go of the man's collar, who dusted himself off, as if he'd dirtied it.
- So she's a woman... All sluts.
At these words, Goren saw red.
He grabbed the man, shook him like a rock and threw him to the ground.
- Not all women are sluts.
At Goren's words, the man burst out laughing.
How naive was this tall, dark-haired man?
Did he really believe that good women existed?
He was going to have to open his eyes.
- If they all do... Proof that what I'm saying is true... He pointed at him. Look how unhappy you are.
This was too much for Goren, who lunged at the man, grabbing him by the hair and throwing violent punches.
- Say that again... He screamed in a rage, unloading all his anger on the man. They're all sluts.
Goren was out of control.

By hitting this man, even though he was a drunk and didn't know what he was talking about, he was taking out all his anger and pain on him.
- Alex... Don't be a slut.
He felt four powerful arms grab him, stop him, and pull him away.
- Let go of me.
Goren tried to push away the arms holding him, but it was impossible.
- You're coming with us to the station, buddy.
What.
That was a joke.
He wasn't going to get arrested and thrown in a cell for beating up a drunk.
But when Goren saw the police car they were taking him to, he knew that was what was going to happen.

The cell opened, revealing the forty-something policeman who had arrested him.
This policeman had a pleasant face, blond hair, and in his azure eyes one could read a profound kindness.
The policeman approached him, left the cell door open, and sat down beside him.
- What could have put you in such a state... Robert Goren.
What could have put him in such a state...
He'd just lost the girl he loved more than anything.
And if he lost her, he had no future.
- Could it be a woman... Goren looked up, surprised that he was so perceptive. So I was right.
Oh yes, he was right.
- But why so much violence towards this drunkard... Was she really worth it... The policeman paused, looked at him. To the point of ruining your chances of joining the force.
To join the police force...
Then he knew.
But how...
Good God...
Goren had forgotten that studying at the New York Police Academy, any policeman could have his file, and know.
- Listen... The policeman laid his hand on his shoulder affectionately. It won't go on your record.
Really, it won't.
He wasn't going to put it on his record.
But why.

After what he'd just done, he didn't stand a chance of joining the police force.
He was ready to kill the drunk in his anger and pain, but the policeman and his partner had stopped him in time.
- But don't ever do that again... The policeman took his arm and helped him to his feet. And don't worry... It'll all work out with this woman.
Worked out with that woman...
I'll say.
He'd just said goodbye to her.
And never again would he see her.
Goren had lost everything, losing Alex.
- Go home... He passed him out of the cell. And I hope one day to see you with us.
Really...
This policeman really wanted him to be one of them, even after what he'd done.
But did he really want to.
Because without Alex, he no longer knew what he really wanted.
Apart from her, nothing mattered anymore.
- I know you're a nice guy.
You really are.
A nice guy.
While Alex's father thought the opposite.
Said he was a sex offender.
And that he'd accused him of wanting to hit a person representing order.
The second wasn't entirely untrue.
Given that he'd hit a drunk.
But it was all Johnny Eames' fault.
Because of Alex's father, he'd lost his ray of sunshine, the woman who lit up his life and was his future.
And so, he'd had to vent all that anger, all that pain.
And it was this poor drunkard who had taken the blows.

He would apologize to the man.
But first, he had to thank this policeman.
For his kindness and understanding.
- Thank you... But I don't know your name...
The policeman plastered a big smile on his lips.
- James Deakins.

This is the end of the first period of the story!