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(September 2016...)

As the orange sunset spreads across the chalky sky, Elizabeth Wrestler takes a seat on the bench beside one of the trees at the Wrestler residence. Alice has been sitting here for quite a while brooding about the fact that her father forbade her from choosing a college major in Music and instead wants her to study Public Administration. The sun's rays are peeping through the sparse array of leaves rustling in the wind. After sitting, Liz smiles faintly and says while staring deep into space, "Remember our first trip to Europe.. when we met the Duchess of Aisland?"

"Yeah.." Alice responds weakly while sniffing in sorrow. She looks up at the sky with watery eyes and then stares back down again, trying to dissipate her tears. 

Afterwards, Liz turns to look at her and continues with a nostalgic smile, ".. You were about fourteen years old and as vibrant as ever. Miguel was five." At these words, Alice's thoughts suddenly drift back down memory lane to her younger years, when she was still very full of existential zest and vision, and quite passionate about the world. 

".. The Duchess had found one of her staff crying in the elevator, over a broken heart. And just after wiping her tears, remember what she said? She said.. All strong women cry, but they never.. "

Alice completes Liz's statement, "..never let their makeup run." 

Liz concurs. Then she takes her hand and says affectionately, "Alice, I know that right now, it may seem like there's no hope. But sweetheart, I want you to hear me, when I say that all hope is not lost. He may have a hold on you right now, but he won't have that hold forever, believe me. In four years, after you get that degree, your bright future will still be waiting for you. And you will be able to chase your dreams without looking back." Liz hugs her tightly, kisses her forehead and says reassuringly, "You have your whole life ahead of you."

Alice's eyes continue to drench in bitter tears,"I want to run away, Liz. I want to run away and never come back."

Upon hearing this, streams of hot tears start to trickle down Liz's cheeks. She wants to speak, but her tongue does not know what to say. 

"But I can't leave Miguel.." Alice sniffs and continues, "I can't leave my brother to grow up with that monster. I.. I have to stay."

Liz kisses Alice's head as she cradles her, "This is not the end, my dear. Better days will come. And we will always be here for you and for Miguel. Better days will come."

They both continue to weep slowly while in each other's arms on the bench, as the streetlights come on and darkness continues to envelops the sky. 

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(Present Day…)

While standing just outside the glass window of the operating room, devastated Alice watches as a team of doctors operate on Wrestler.  She sees a system of tubes of various kinds sticking out of his face while he lays placid on the operating table, almost like a corpse. Ronald's entire body is engulfed in a pale blue cloth and a red glow keeps emanating from his cut-open leg as rays from the bright bulbs bathe his injury; his fractured femur being repaired. The sight is so gory that Alice nearly faints, but somehow remains conscious all the while. She finds it deadly frightening that right now, Wrestler's life hangs in the balance and that he could also become a memory like Liz now is. While she stares, she cannot help but gasp in horror and slowly slide her fingers down the cold glass in utter sorrow. She cannot believe that Liz is dead. Liz was like a mother to her and Miguel. And in many ways, she was also a dear friend whenever Alice needed one. Right now, Alice feels like she just lost her mother all over again. Twice the sorrow, twice the anguish and twice the anxiety, especially about what will happen next. Her heart aches like it were ripped out of her chest and then abruptly stuffed back in again.

While she is immersed in such deep anguish, somebody places a warm hand on her shoulder,
"Mija.. You need to get some rest."

"No, I'm not leaving him." she whispers, in tears.

Alejandro sighs and continues tenderly, "He is still in surgery, mija. It will be a while until they're done. At least, go and get a change of clothes. I won't leave his side, I promise. Please, my dear."

Fresh tears start to roll down Alice's cheeks again,
"Alright, dad.." she responds. "#SNIFFS.. I will."
As she sniffs again, Alejandro engulfs her in a fatherly embrace. He holds her so tight that she is unable to help crying even more and letting out several outbursts of bitter tears.

"I'm so sorry. I know how painful this must be." he whispers while comforting her.

"She... she was always there for us, papi.. ever since mom died. I just..#SNIFFS.. I just can't believe that she is gone too.", Alice laments while gasping and weeping profusely.

"I know, mija." he sniffs, "I know."

He keeps cradling her continuously.

Back in the waiting room of the hospital, Joe arrives in a grey sweatshirt and jeans. He finds Martha and another office colleague sitting on the couch. Her face is quite dismal in grief.

"Hello, Martha. How is he?", Joe asks sympathetically.

"Critical..” Martha says while standing up with tears in her eyes,”.. He is still in surgery." She wraps herself in her shawl even more and continues anxiously, "..He told me about their anniversary and I..#SNIFFS.. I encouraged him to surprise Liz with a romantic dinner.." Then she sniffs again while wiping some more tears from her eyes with a white handkerchief, "..He already lost his only daughter, Joe. And now, because of me..#SNIFFS.. he has lost his wife too."

Moved by her words, Joe immediately hugs her before she breaks down in tears. 

"Martha, Listen to me. This is not your fault. It is not your fault."
Martha just keeps weeping in regret.

Thereafter, Alice walks into the waiting room. She no longer seems to be crying, but her swollen eyes are still blood-red. She immediately sights Joe and then their eyes meet. While he comforts Martha, they give each other prolonged austere gazes. Although the anger in Joe's eyes is slightly tainted with compassion, Alice's gaze is unequivocally filled with rage. She is still very pissed at Joe for a reason she is yet to articulate. Joe on the other hand, does not seem to know yet what he did wrong. He becomes painfully annoyed by the thought of her utterly irrational behaviour, so he shifts his gaze away and opts to blatantly ignore her presence. For some reason, noticing this pisses Alice off even more, such that she subtly clenches her teeth and storms out of the waiting room. She starts heading toward the exit of the hospital and eventually leaves. 

She quickly wears her coat after coming out of the hospital and starts to walk down the snowy path along Fifth Avenue. Her breath progressively softens as she exhales colder wafts of air. Then shockingly, she bumps into a guy just a few meters from the hospital. 

"Hey! Watch where you're going." he exclaims, before walking past her in irritation. 

Disoriented Alice begins to mouth an apology as the guy adjusts his jacket and walks away, but then notices a partially concealed nine-millimeter handgun and an oddly familiar tattoo protruding upwards onto the side of his neck. It looks partially like an anchor joined with a sword of some sort. She is unable to remember who exactly she had seen it on before, but can definitely recognize it from somewhere. The thought of the memory alone starts to give her the chills, and from her bird's eye inspection of this guy, he seems like bad news. While slowly increasing her pace, she becomes thankful that the encounter did not last beyond that. 

After crossing Time Square, Alice stops by a pharmacy to buy some medication. While purchasing them over the counter, her thoughts gradually drift away to her experience the previous night. 

---

After mutual rounds of orgasmic foreplay,  Joe keeps massaging her slowly and in a very sensual way, as though he wants to savour every moan; every gasp that she makes while he serenades her ears with the song of his breath.

"Joe.." Alice calls out softly.
"Yes, Alice?" he answers with another deep breath.
"I want you inside me. Fuck me. Please. Fuck me hard." she requests softly yet without reservation.
"..Hhhhh..", Joe breathes into her ear in response. "I thought you'd never ask", he adds almost humorously before they catch each other's gaze and chuckle. Thereafter, he bites on his lower lip and whispers, "But baby, there's a slight problem. I don't have a condom here."
".. Shit.." Alice remarks with a sigh, "..It's okay though. I'm on the pill. And I'm very healthy.” she adds, while arching her back some more.

Joe smiles and nips at her ear again. "..I am too. But it's always good to be safe." Then he looks forward and continues,"Don't worry. I think I know just where to get one."
Alice nearly laughs cutely at the situation while adjusting her hair and says, "Okay sir! Well, you best be on your way then. I'll be waiting."
Shaking his head, Joe chuckles as well. Then he slaps her ass and licks his lips, "Keep that ass warm for me." 

---

"$17.99.." echoes the cashier, as he hands her a small bag containing some medication. 

"Alright, thank you." Alice responds while being jolted back into reality. Then she hands him eighteen dollars and quickly exits the pharmacy. 

After coming out, she stops for a moment to breathe in heavily again, noticing how much the snowy air has thickened. Then she brings out a cherry beanie from her hand bag and quickly puts it on, before slowly and reflectively continuing her walk home. 

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After taking a lukewarm shower, Alice steps out of the bathroom with a pink towel tied around her chest. Using the other large towel in her hand, she gently wipes the droplets of water off her hair and walks toward the mirror inside her bedroom. While staring at her dismal face, she can tell for sure that she will need much more time to grieve alone and to fully regain herself. She is shattered beyond even her own comprehension. Not to mention, when Miguel finds out, he will be equally devastated. He isn't back from his school field trip yet, and Alice is very glad. She is still trying to figure out the best way to break the painful news to him. He will most likely return home on Monday. Maybe by then, she would have thought of something and gotten herself together. 

Alice removes a packet of morning after pills from the small bag of medication lying on her dressing cabinet and then takes one. As she does so, her mind drifts away to the previous night. 

---

After a few seconds, Joe returns into the main office and locks the door behind him. He slowly begins to walk toward her while stark naked, with a flattering but chilling intent in his eyes. 

"Wow.. that was quick." Alice remarks with a blushful smile and then crosses her legs almost immediately in utter shyness. She also uses one arm to shield her nipples from Joe's perverted gaze. As glad as she is being like this with Joe, she still isn't used to being so bare in front of a man, especially while face to face. It's quite overwhelming.

Joe stops half way across the office and raises the gold sachet in his hand, "It was inside your office."

"Please tell me you didn't hide a condom inside my desk drawer." Alice remarks, with a bewildered but amused look on her face.
"Haha.. It's been in the book case on the shelf, since before you were hired." he replies.
"Ohh.. so you've had other women in here?" Alice queries. 

"Girl!..", Joe stares at the ceiling while exclaiming in frustration. He walks closer to her and places his arms around her waist. Then he presses his hardness against her stomach and says,"Alice.. would you like us to have sex right now on this table or not?"

Alice nearly quivers at the sound of his voice and his constant throbbing against her sensitive flesh. Intent on winning this now intense battle between her mind and her raging hormones, she raises a brow at him in response. 

Then Joe breathes out heavily and responds, "No.. I haven't had other women here. Alice.. I really want you. And only you."

Immediately he ends his statement, Alice kisses his lips passionately. Then she responds with a lascivious smile, "Okay. Carry on, Mr. King."

Joe chuckles, puts the sachet to his mouth and slowly cuts it open with his teeth while staring at her the entire time. Then he takes a step back, places the ring to his muscular tip and carefully slides it down his shaft, letting out a slight moan at the end. He begins to rub his washboard abs and run his hand up to his chest very suggestively and isn't shy at all about it. Instead, he maintains a very steady eye contact with her and a serious yet needy look on his face. Alice just sits there in awe of how Joe can be so sensually free and self-assured, and how almost frothing his seductive charms are currently making her underneath. Following his lead, she decides to fully expose her breasts, pull back her hair and part her legs completely. Her heels and panties are still on. Nevertheless, she raises her right leg up to the desk and shifts her G-string to the side, to expose her wetness to him. Joe's head nearly explodes with delight at the sight of Alice slowly feeling herself up, taking loud breaths and beckoning him to come closer. Immediately, he responds by moving forward and grabbing her.

---

#RING #RING

Alice's mind snaps back into reality after she hears her phone ring the second time.

It's Julian.

She picks it up and then steadies her breath before answering, "Hello, Julian."

"Hello, Alice. I.. I just saw what happened to Wrestler's wife on the news. I'm so sorry, querida.. How are you? I hope you're doing okay.."

Alice sighs and responds with sheer gloominess and yet a sort of earnestness in her voice, "Yeah. I am. It's just.. Wrestler.. he's still in surgery. Right now, he's fighting for his life and.." She sniffs.

"Don't worry, bonita. He'll make it, okay. He's a very tough man. Please, don't cry. I'm so sorry for not being there with you. Are you still in the hospital?"

"Uhm, No..", she wipes her tears, ".. I just came home to take a shower. I'll be heading back there soon."

"Okay, no problem. I'll meet you there."

"Alright. Thanks a lot, Julian. Bye." she replies.

"Alright then. You'd better not shed another tear. See you later."

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