Broken Together

PROLOGUE                                                                                    VINCENT It’s cold. Dark. I know where I am but I have no f*****g idea why I’m even here in the first place. All I can remember was getting stabbed twice in the back, struggling to get up and seeing three people fleeing from the scene including that old man I just saved.  Well, this is what you get for trying to be a little bit of human. f*****g stupid idea.  I move and use my hands to be able to lean against the wall of this empty alley. f**k it hurts. I pressed my left hand on the stab wound and stared at my hand that is completely drenched with my blood. Well, I am going to die in this lame alley. I let out a sign, a grunt really, for the last time.  I know they say that your life will flash before your eyes right before you die. I would like to skip that. I had a pretty shitty life so no need to reminisce.  “Sir! A-Are you okay?” I felt a hand touching my arm. Trying to shake me. Go away, I tried to say. It was silent for a few minutes. That woman probably left already. Obedient. Nice.  “Yes, Uhm... someone got hurt and I think he’s still alive. Please send someone here.” Huh? f**k. Still here. I tried to open my eyes and look at the woman crouching in front of me holding her phone on her ears, her eyes focused on the busy street nearby. I stretched my arm and reached for her hand that’s holding her phone. Then in a split second, her light hazel eyes focused on me making me stop mid-air. Then she slowly starts to fade, my body felt as if all the air in my lungs left my body making me fall into the ground.  And that was the first time I saw Her.                                                                                          CHAPTER 1                                                                                            AMELIA   I stopped going to school at the age of fifteen. I started working the following year at my Aunt Claire’s bookstore and also a part-time job as a dishwasher at a restaurant near the apartment I used to share with my parents until they got caught using drugs then sent to prison. I had to fend for myself because I figured that no one else will. My Aunt Claire offered to shelter me but I declined because her husband tried to force himself to me when I stayed in their house one night after my parents were arrested. I screwed my mouth shut and never told my Aunt Claire about it because she loved and adored her husband. He’s her third husband. The first one died in an accident, the second one beats her into a pulp and then left her. Uncle Mac picked her up and showered her with everything that she wants. He gave her a beautiful house, cars and her bookstore. I can’t ruin it for her.  I tried to visit my mom and dad at the prison once every week after they got arrested but three years passed and I just couldn’t bring myself to visit them anymore. I was let down.  Before they got hooked on drugs, life was perfect. Dad had a job at a law firm and my mom bakes delicious cakes and sells them online. We had a very normal and peaceful relationship until one day, my dad got fired and he became addicted to alcohol and soon with drugs. My mom got so depressed because of bankruptcy and followed my dad’s addiction. Leaving me all by myself to make my food, wash my clothes, finish my homework and walk myself to school. Until one day, I couldn’t go to school anymore and my parents got arrested. They started selling drugs and got caught.  So here I am today, earning my own money and making ends meet at the age of nineteen. When I first stepped foot at this bookstore, I felt giddy. I love books and even though I wasn’t able to finish school, I can still read and learn here. I love my job. At lunchtime, I get to read as much as I can and munch on my favourite sandwich that I bought next door. After everything that has happened, I still want to look at the bright side as much as I can. Or else, I’ll break.  “Hey Mel, can you please deliver those boxes after your lunch break. Mrs Montgomery won’t stop calling me about it. She needs it today for her children.” Aunt Claire said from her office upstairs.  “Got it. I’ll deliver it now. Finished with my sandwich anyways.” I got up and ate the remaining sandwich in my hand. I picked up the box filled with children’s book from the counter and head outside. I was welcomed by the cold air of Seattle as soon as I opened the door and I immediately put on my beanie and scarf while holding the box on my other hand. I enjoy Seattle’s weather but I would also love to experience a little bit of warmth. Today, of all days, is especially cold. It looks like it’s going to rain anytime soon and I regret not bringing my umbrella.  I crossed the road to get to Mrs Montgomery house and as I was about to get to the corner of the street to her house, three men ran past me, nearly knocking me over to the ground. “Hey! Watch it!” I shouted at them trying to find my balance again. I saw another old man coming out of an alley and he looks frightened. He approached me with panicked eyes “P-Please… you gotta help him!” He pointed to the alley. “Who?” I asked trying to back away but he started walking away in a hurry.  I stood there confused as I watch him hurriedly crossing the street. I looked back at the alley that he was pointing at and decided to take a peek. It’s a little dark, given the black clouds in the sky right now, and I can’t see anything there from where I am. Then I heard a grunt, a faint grunt but it’s a grunt. I immediately thought maybe someone got hurt that’s why the old man said to “Help” whoever is in the alley.  I slowly entered the alley and kept my eyes open for anything.  A man is sitting on the ground with his head cast towards the ground. He’s wearing black fitted jeans, a black t-shirt and a leather jacket. His hands are resting on his sides and one of his hand is drenched with blood, or so I thought.  “Sir! A-Are you okay?” I reached for his arm, shaking him a little to make sure if he’s conscious. I heard a whisper but I can’t understand what he said. Thank God he’s still alive. I remember my dad sitting on the couch, the same position as this person, with a syringe stuck on his arm. I shook that thought and I pulled out my phone from my pocket and started dialling 911. A woman answered, “Yes, Uhm... someone got hurt and I think he’s still alive. Please send someone here.” The woman started to ask me questions and as I answered her, I start to think, as I watch people pass by from this alley, what if no one bothered to even check this alley. This guy could die here and no one will know of it. I crouched in front of this man and continued checking the street at the end of the alley when I felt someone looking at me. I looked back at the man and I saw his blue eyes barely focusing on me and his arm is stretched out towards me, stopping mid-air. His blonde hair dishevelled and his mouth is busted. I opened my mouth wanting to ask if he’s okay but before I can even say anything, his eyes slowly closed and he fell into the ground. The dispatcher from 911 just told me that help will be on the way and all I can think about is why is he reaching for me.  A few minutes later, the ambulance arrived. As he was being transferred to the stretcher, I took a glimpse of him again and realized how young he looks. He’s probably the same age as me and here he is bleeding to death. I do hope he survives.  “That would be all, ma’am.” The policeman said as he was walking back to his car. “Thank you.” I gave a small smile to the police and watched as the ambulance drove away. Then I remembered how his blue eyes turned from blank to recognition before he passed out. I sighed in the middle of the sidewalk and decided to carry on with my day and just hope he survive.  I rang the doorbell of Mrs Montgomery’s house as soon as I arrived. Her door flung open and their dog Maisie, a golden retriever, came running towards me making me crouch to the ground to welcome him to my arms.  “Hey, Mel.” Jake followed Maisie outside. Jake is Mrs Montgomery’s oldest son and my friend.  “Heeey!” I stood up and hugged Jake. “It’s been a long time. How’s college?” I said as I release him smiling.  “Good, good. I just came back yesterday. How are you?” He took the box from my hand and he led me inside their house.  “Same as always.” I entered their huge living room filled with kids toys on the floor and the rest of the house smells like cinnamon.  “Are you still doing that part-time job at Josie’s?” Jake said looking back at me after placing the box on their living room table. He inserts his hand on his pocket and gave me a shy smile. “Yeah. I got promoted from washing the dishes to collecting orders.”  “Nice-e, hey well, I won’t be leaving back to Washington until tomorrow evening, want to hang out tonight?”  “Ahm… well- “ “It’s not a date! I mean, we can if you’re okay with it…” He added.  I gave him an apologetic smile “I can’t, Jake. I’m sorry.” We’ve known each other since high school and I admit I had a crush on him before and hoped that he would ask me out but now, I consider him as a really good friend. He was always very considerate of me. I can’t also risk our friendship. I can’t afford to lose that too.  “I understand.” Jake’s eyes cast down to the floor and gave an awkward chuckle.  “Is that you, Mel?” Mrs Montgomery shouted from somewhere inside the house.  “Yeah mom, she brought the books,” Jake answered for me.  “I’m so sorry, Jake. It’s- “I whispered.  “Please don’t say “It’s not you, it’s me,” he said smiling showcasing his adorable dimples.  “I was going to say that it’s not me, it’s you. You deserve so much better, Jake.” I smiled back at him hoping to show how sincere I am. He bit his lip trying to suppress a smile and I just know it won’t be awkward between us. I am truly sincere with what I said. He truly deserves someone that can and will love him and be on the same page in life with him. Not someone who’s constantly working her ass off to live.  I headed back to the bookstore after an hour and a half spent in Mrs Montgomery’s house. She won’t let me leave until I finish eating the cinnamon rolls that she tried hard to perfect the whole morning. It was so delicious; I do love anything with cinnamon. While eating I was surrounded by Jake’s younger siblings as we all lounged at their living room. I like spending time with them because it reminds me of the time when I had a normally peaceful day with my own family. As I watch Jake as he bonds with his brother’s and sister’s, made me wish I had a brother or a sister.  “I’m back,” I announced as soon as I entered the bookstore. I saw Aunt Claire from behind the counter looking at the person standing in front of her. She has this weird expression on her face that is a mix of shocked and wonder.  She finally saw me walking towards them, silently studying the man with his back towards me. He’s tall and lean, dishevelled blonde hair, all-black outfit. “Hey.” Aunt Claire simply said, her eyes going back and forth between me and the guy in front of her. Then the guy’s head turns in my direction and I immediately recognized those clear blue eyes looking straight at me. He slowly smiled and it made me suddenly stop dead in my tracks. “Hi.” His deep voice sounded like an echo as he slowly approached me with what looks like an amused expression. Or so I thought.