Upon the uncomfortable sofa he sat rigidly, holding it protectively in his lap. It was only on rare, lonely days like these that he felt the need to bring the album out. Usually, it never saw the light of day. He kept it well-concealed in a drawer of his desk where it lay collecting dust for the most part. He could barely even remember the last time he had felt the urge to look at it. Gently he fingered it, carefully wiping away the thin film of dust that had accumulated in the past few months.
It was a thick, antique-looking album, filled with memories. Memories which had now become so precious to him that at times his heart ached. He wasn’t usually one to shed a tear, but somehow the mere sight of the album always had the power to make him emotional. It was his most prized possession.
With great care, he opened the album, his heart in his throat as he did so. He turned each page carefully, his eyes absorbing even the minutest details. As he pored over the pictures, he felt a familiar surge of anger engulfing him. Anger which he could feel rapidly turning to rage with the passing of each page.
Suddenly, he snapped the album closed, squeezing his eyes shut tightly. After a moment he opened them and surprisingly, there were no tears or even a hint of sadness. Instead there was raw, unadulterated fury. There was a cold, hard, uncharacteristic but yet not unfamiliar glint to them. It was the same look that plagued him time and again as he reminisced about the past. A past that sadly, he could never go back to no matter how desperately he tried.
Angrily he balled his hands into tight fists, clenching his jaw. His life had been so perfect it had almost been surreal. With only one year left before he graduated from med school, his future had looked extremely promising. He had even been planning on travelling to Africa during the summer to take part in a mission with his long-time girlfriend who was also studying medicine. He had had everything he had ever dreamed of but in one fell swoop all that had changed. The girlfriend and medical career had quickly become non-existent. It had been the only way he could devote himself fully to planning his revenge. A revenge that he truly believed he deserved after everything he had lost. It was a revenge that he told himself time and again he would get if it was the last thing he ever did.
The cool breeze sifted gently though her long blonde tresses as she walked slowly down the bustling street. She moved, completely immersed in her own thoughts and therefore oblivious to the appreciative stares cast her way.
Clad in a light jacket, she had spent the better portion of her day aimlessly wondering the busy streets of New York. Aside from the occasional window shop which she glanced into, she had been moving all day. Now her feet ached considerably and her body was overwrought with exhaustion. Nevertheless she forged on, pulling her flimsy jacket close to her body. She had no intentions of going home just yet.
At times Jessica would set out early in the morning, moving around Manhattan like a nomad. She would walk all day and return home around the time darkness began to descend upon the city. When she returned, she was usually so exhausted that she went directly to sleep without eating or even changing her clothes.
For Jessica, the streets of New York were a welcome respite from her attractively furnished one bedroom apartment. The walls of her apartment had proven to be unbearably suffocating at times. Sometimes it was as though wherever she looked, his haunting image was there, his menacing scowl silently taunting her. Those were the days when Jessica fled recklessly from her apartment, hoping against hope that when she returned he would be gone. Sadly, she knew in her heart of hearts that he would always be there, waiting for her to return. Despite her various attempts, she could never make him fully disappear.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she stopped momentarily at a busy crosswalk. She waited impatiently for the light to change, anxious to keep moving. Shifting her weight from foot to foot, she stared off into the distance. As the light changed she began moving mechanically, her legs feeling extraordinarily heavy and cumbersome.
Suddenly, she paused, noticing a smattering of people forming an unorganized line a few feet in front of her. Quickly recognition flashed across her face as she absorbed the familiar lights and sounds of the club.
For a few moments, she stood watching patrons entering the club excitedly. Some were clad sexily in skimpy clothes and others outlandishly outfitted in bright colors. As she stood watching them forlornly, a part of her ached to follow. At that moment, she wished she could be one of them, eagerly entering the club without a care in the world. For one night all she wanted to do was have fun and not worry about the past that haunted her.
Warning bells suddenly began resonating in her head as she stood awkwardly. After her episode a few days ago, she had sworn to herself that she would never return to the club again. And yet there she stood, inexplicably drawn to the excitement and intensity that the club had to offer. Despite the fact that she was undeniably attracted to the prospect of entering, she stood fidgeting apprehensively with her hair, fearing yet another emotional relapse.
With another sigh, she let her eyes wander over to the faces of the people waiting anxiously in line. They all looked so happy, so energetic. For a split second Jessica felt a twinge of jealously. She wondered why it was that everyone around her seemed happy and yet she was destined to forever live with a dark cloud hanging over her. It wasn’t fair at all, but then again as she had come to realize countless times, life never was fair.
She cast a final dubious look around and quickly joined the line before she could change her mind. She was unable to resist the club’s compelling call. Jessica waited for what felt like an eternity before it was her turn. Finally she entered cautiously, oblivious to the eager bodies which passed by her impatiently.
Gazing at the rhythmic, sweaty bodies that filled the club to capacity, she wished that she could be one of them – even if it was just for one night. Maybe tonight was destined to be her one night she was allowed to cut loose and gave fun for a change. As she slowly walked into the smoke filled room, she desperately prayed that she was right.
Nick swaggered confidently into the club, eyeing all his prospects appreciatively. He nodded hello to the few girls he knew by name, stopping for the occasional hug or kiss on the cheek.
Entering the club, an adequately equipped female caught his attention as she sashayed past him, her hips swinging provocatively. A smile played upon his lips as he watched her closely. Keeping his eyes on her, he watched as she shimmied sexily across the dance floor. A smirk formed upon his lips as surprisingly, he saw her blatantly reject each guy that approached her for a dance. Tease, he thought with an amused grin.
He loved playing this game and did it quite often. It was a challenge for him trying to figure out the true identities about of the many women he saw there. He was often surprised how easily he could decipher one’s personality just by their gestures and movements.
Soon, his eyes wandered over to a pretty girl standing alone by the bar. He studied her for a few moments noting her conservative dress, shy smile and the way she uncertainly held her glass. He watched with a bemused smile as she took a small sip from her drink, cringing with disgust as she nearly choked. Virgin, he thought wickedly.
Next his eyes fell upon an attractive girl dancing sexily with her partner. From the careful attention that the guy paid to her, Nick could tell they were a couple. He immediately noticed her wandering gaze however and watched in fascination as she made eye contact with another guy across the floor. Cheat, he mused knowingly.
Finally his eyes spied a girl sitting by herself at the bar. He watched her closely for a few moments and for once was unable to figure her out. He watched carefully as her pouty crimson lips took a drag from her cigarette and then she immediately followed with a small sip her drink. As his eyes slowly traveled her body and he took in her sexy leather ensemble, his first instinct was rebel. However as his eyes perused her face, he knew instantly that he was wrong.
Her soft, angelic features were in stark contrast to her dark outfit and the mysterious aura that seemed to surround her. He stood, amazed by the mere poise and grace of how her body swayed unconsciously to the music.
Unlike the others in the club, she seemed totally unaware and uncaring of her surroundings, which piqued Nick’s curiosity. Despite her attempts to fit in, she somehow didn’t which made Nick question why she was there in the first place. Even from afar, he sensed that she herself was aware that she didn’t belong there, which was why she had stationed herself at the bar away from the action.
Unable to tear his eyes from her, he stood watching her from a distance, amazed by both her flawless beauty and obvious discomfort. He was suddenly unable to resist the inexplicable urge he had to talk to her and began walking towards her.
Nick had never been one to walk away from a challenge and as he moved slowly towards her, he was acutely aware that this was going to be a difficult one.