Best Friends, Remember?

The hope-bringing old man

Staring at the glass, Genevieve felt a big hole in her heart, that almost made her scream. Obviously, she couldn’t do that, as far as she was sitting on the bus, not crowded, but still – with other people innocently around her, just being. Traveling. Performing their own duties. And furthermore, not having issues with some dangerous killers.

Genevieve found that very unfair, that such a terrible thing had to happen to herself and her closest relatives. She would’ve done anything for them. Literally. That’s why she was so upset and against this plan, especially that “running-away” part.

Genevieve sat down at the end of the bus. She sighed sadly and put her headphones out of her backpack. She was luckily, she had taken them with her. She put them on her neck, but suddenly realised someone wanted to sit next to her. This potential mate was an elderly man (around his sixties), with grey hair and a smart mustache. He was wearing a denim cap and dark, cheap-looking sunglasses but his outfit was very humble – worn, striped polo t-shirt, denim jacket, and jeans. With a backpack in his wrinkled, spotted, and vein hand. He glanced at Genevieve politely and gave a warm smile to her.

“Hello” he said.

“Good morning, sir” Genevieve replied.

“May I sit here?”

Genevieve nodded her head politely and responded: “Sure, go ahead”

He sat down next to her. Some cold air has blown, even though the windows were closed.

After this short welcome Genevieve and the elderly man were sitting in

a complete silence. Neither Genevieve nor the man knew, how to start

a nice conversation with a person in such an age difference. It turned out the man took the first step.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Genevieve” replied she; “and yours, sir?”

“Stan” he replied and they both shook hands; “The weather is severe, isn’t it?” said Stan.

“Indeed, sir” Genevieve responded.

“This God-damn fog is confusing as hell, isn’t it? You never know what’s gonna appear, am I right?” said Stan and leant, taking a look on the grey road.

“Sure you are, sir”

Stan nodded and sat straight again.

While he was leaning, Genevieve noticed that Stan had worn a bead with

a Christian cross on his left wrist.

“That’s really beautiful” Genevieve praised the bracelet and waited for Stan’s reaction.

“Oh…” he laughed; “thanks, kid. That’s a gift from my wife for my last birthday”

“How lovely” smiled Genevieve; “what’s your wife’s name?”

“Joan”

“What a pretty name. My mum’s name’s Joanna” Genevieve informed Stan and suddenly felt pain in her heart. She tried hard not to shed a tear. Successfully, luckily. She didn’t want to involve such a kind man in her family problems.

“Actually;” started Stan; “my birthday’s today. Coincidence? I don’t think so…” said Stan and they both laughed.

“Really? October the twenty-seventh. I’ll certainly remember that” said Genevieve and touched her temple with her forefinger. “Happy birthday, sir. May I ask, how old are you turning today?”

Stan laughed amused by the question, looked at intrigued Genevieve and responded kindly: “Seventy-five”

Genevieve nodded with a respect and commented: “Wow, you look well, sir”

“Thanks. You can call me by my name, kid” Stan said.

“So can you” Genevieve responded.

That was the very pleasant beginning of a journey, that was caused in very unpleasant circumstances.

Stan and Genevieve have been talking and talking. Their first small talk turned into a passionate conversation about literally (well, maybe not at all) everything. They raised subjects like: interests, friends and – what really got Genevieve interested – Stan’s home in Mist.

“Mist Hill is like… one hundred and twenty miles away. It’s nearby a lake, you know? Mistland Water. Gosh, the view from the window is insane…” Stan faded.

“Stan…” Genevieve started; “so what are you doing so far from home?”

“Well… my wife is Maidstone and I’m just… visiting her” Stan explained.

“Wow, you travelled one hundred and twenty miles to be with your wife? This is so romantic, Stan. Joanna is very lucky to have such a loving, caring and devoted husband. Not everybody can resign from the comfortable placement to make someone surprised. That’s a really fine gesture”

“Oh, thanks. At least there is a thing that I can do myself. Because since we were married, she has always been the boss” laughed Stan, so did Genevieve.

“How long have you been married?” Genevieve asked.

“Let’s see… about… 45 years. Yeah, pretty much”

“Long. I’ve always admired married couples. For example my parents…” suddenly Genevieve stopped and tried to explain why she did so.

“Are you okay, Genevieve?” Stan asked.

“Yeah, I…” Genevieve started making up a good reason for her hang;

“I just thought I saw someone. Never mind”

“Are you sure?” Stan tried to make sure.

“Yeah, absolutely”

Stan sighed and checked the clock.

“Oh, wow, it is already four o’clock? Are you kidding me? We’re supposed to be in Maidstone now. Oh, wait…” he stood up to check the bus stop; “oh, sorry, here we are” laughed.

Genevieve laughed too and also stood up.

“That’s your stop?” Stan asked.

“Ah-huh” Genevieve responded.

Stan, having a suspicious mine, left the deck with Genevieve (the driver looked at her in a weird way) and both watched the bus receding.

They stood next to each other and breathed with the fresh air. It was quite clean and the town was pretty quiet, so the atmosphere was really cosy.

“I forgot to ask you, what are you doing in here. You live in Maidstone?” Stan asked.

“Yeah, sure. Why would I leave London?” she laughed nervously.

“Genevieve…”

She avoided Stan’s eyesight, but unsuccessfully.

“Tell me what’s wrong” he asked.

“No, I’m fine, Stan, really… I just…”

“Look into my eyes and say that one more time” he commended.

Genevieve put her head up and looked into Stan’s eyes. They were very honest, decent and most importantly – dark brown.

Longer she tried not to shed a single tear, it was getting harder and harder as seconds were passing.

Genevieve’s emotions have taken over and exploded as a big crying.

Stan rapidly hugged Genevieve to cheer her up.

“It’s okay” he was saying; “everything’s okay”

“No, it is not, Stan. Regardless of what I have said before”

Stan looked around and found a place to talk.

“Come on here, you’ll tell me everything”

* * *

As soon Stan has listened to Genevieve’s speech, he sighed heavily with

a shook and leant his head against the tree trunk. They sat in the park, among orange and yellow leaves, that have fallen from the trees.

“So…” Stan tried to push words out of his mouth, but they barely were coming out. Finally he said: “So… a couple of murderers have killed your parents, now they ran away and you’re in danger…

“That’s right” Genevieve confirmed.

“Wow, that’s freaking sick…”

“I know, I know… I don’t know what to do” complained she.

“Call the police”

“Giselle has already done that”

Genevieve breakdown hid her face in her arms.

“No, don’t cry, please” Stan begged.

“No, I’m not, don’t worry” she said; “I’m just… trying to figure this out… This is sick…”

“So, what you’re gonna do?” asked Stan as they left the cafe. The temperature was low, unluckily for Genevieve, as she didn’t have any extra coat with her. She shivered.

“Aren’t YOU cold?” Genevieve asked surprised. He was wearing his denim jacket only!

“I’ll be okay. Joan is in near here”

“That’s a shame, that I’m gonna miss that” commented Genevieve.

“A huge loss” admitted Stan.

Then, he hugged her very warmly and when they were ought to say goodbye, Stan rapidly added something.

“You know… my house in Hambleton is empty now…”

Genevieve was listening to Stan focused and carefully.

“So, if you want, you can live there until you’re safe again”

Genevieve was staring at Stan in disbelief.

“Stan… I just don’t know what to say… I mean, thank you but I can’t”

“Certainly, you can” replied Stan.

Genevieve hugged Stan one more time and cried in his arms.

“You’re an angel” said Genevieve and took a look deep into Stan’s eyes. The wrinkles on his face were adorable, when he grinned. She didn’t know why, but that sentence made Stan laugh, like with irony…

“I promise, that I will meet you, after everything is okay again. Okay? Just… don’t forget me”

“How could I possibly forget you? You kiddin’?” joked Stan and they both laughed.

She had turned around and she saw a coming bus.

“I’d better go. And thank you so much for everything”

“I’m glad I could help” responded Stan.

“Maybe you could visit me some day? Not necessarily at the moment, you get the intention… 24 Hamilton Street, Kingston upon Thames” she proposed and after that, Stan watched Genevieve walking away. Suddenly he ran to her and added while she was entering the deck.

“They key is under the doormat. That’s weird but I think I’m having a deja vu”

Genevieve laughed and responded with: “Okay, thanks”

She walked up the stairs and sat next to the glass. As the bus was leaving the bus stop, she waved Stan goodbye.

When the bus has disappeared behind the corner, he grinned to himself and jumped happily, putting his hands up with enthusiasm.

 “Now… let’s see if they work it out together…”