VIOLET ( A FORBIDDEN ROMANCE)

d, March night down the side s

r. The cold air stung her face,

She would never have to go bac

ps. Never have to see this neig

idea where she was going, but at

ooked up, scanning for a free

wouldn't get one. The su

h Street station. She'd never

ich line to take, or where to get

she might encounter down in th

in this n

ned steps and approached the

to Columbus Cir

nt behind the plex

Anna said, "b

e platform!" sn

na answered. "You d

ust ignored

much

," snapped

xtracted three crumpled dollar

as

ignoring her, sli

the card and en

and nearly deserted. Two home

but the other looked up at he

Anna wal

platform and leaned over, lo

on. C

again. Already five minutes

ondered if Oliver would lea

quickly out of the corner of

ought she saw a shadow creep

the railway track. She felt

ed again and

e seeing

ge subway map. It was scrat

out the subway line. At least she

mbus Circle. She start

lost,

black man standing over her

s missing teeth. He leaned in t

e breat

him and walked s

, I'm talk

ept wa

staggered and swayed as he

t was a long platform, so ther

void another confronta

w long it would be until she'd

God, get me

illed the station, and the tra

satisfaction as the doors clos

on the me

ments he was no more than a b

ood. On her wa

e and walked at a brisk pace.

nutes late. S

re. Please do

ks away, she suddenly felt a p

k by the i

stomach, unable to move. She

pain to care. She'd never experi

ed to catch

either side, but no one st

nally, slowly, stood back up

wondering what it cou

ng in the direction of the caf

....Hunger. It wasn't a normal

her, walking her dog, Anna noti

craning her neck and watching t

g at i

the details of the veins on the

tbeat through the blood, and she

She wanted th

ched, the dog turned as it wal

away. The owner of the dog t

rsta

understand what was happeni

n animal, much less a fly.

as quickly as they had come,

corner, the café came into s

erself again. She checked her wa

be

was pounding, this time not fr

would b

ace. She walked in fast, ou

eyes on her, and scanned the row

sign of Oliver. Her hear

nn

inning, stood Oliver. She f

in a rush. "I am usually n

ng his hand on her shoulder. "D

ou're okay,

green eyes, framed by a still

t at peace. She felt that everyt

have much time if we're going

guess we'll have to have tha

ust so happy that we didn't mis

suc

was horrified to realize tha

clutching her gym bag which hel

ly, slip into the bathroom, chan

s standing there, facing him, dr

eddened. She didn't kno

dressed like this," she said. "

u say we have

ch, a flash of conce

s,

and before he could answer, sh

for the

and locked it behind her. S

hing, now rumpled. She yanked o

skirt, and a white silk blouse.

were cheap, but they worked.

igh-heel

s a little bit rumpled, not as

ed the small, silver cross she s

t she was dressed. She quickly

ome strands in place. She comp

er cl

en she noticed her pile of o

idn't want to carry those clothes

ver want to wear t

ll, and with great satisfactio

She was now wearing her one and

ng into her new lif

the café, tapping his foot,

when he saw her, all dressed u

ech

at her that way before. She n

r looked at her made her feel...s

me, like

eautiful," he

you, she wanted to answer,

, she walked up to him, slip

e farm arena. He walked with her

d on top

thing that had happened that day, and the day bef