More than a week had passed since Walter and I have been volunteering at the society together, and I had been thinking of him as a friend. But the event of the night before last pierced my heart. It was no more than a nightmare now, and I didn't want to think about it, but I hated the thought of having to see him again. I was wrapped deeply in my thoughts when Jennie called me down for breakfast. My face looked pale and my eyes, swollen from crying, felt as if they were burning. I quietly picked at my breakfast and did not say a word.

"What's the matter?" Jennie asked, looking concerned, "You look ill and pale. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, trying to avoid eye contact.

The weather was dark and gloomy. It looked like it was going to rain in a few hours, and it probably would result in more snow and chilly weather. The temperature had fallen quite low and it was colder than yesterday. It was freezing outside and the roads were covered with snow. I sat alone and warmed myself for half an hour by the fire before leaving for work. Jennie was already gone and didn't say a word to me because she was angry at me for being silent, and ignoring her; she just left quietly and quickly with Paul.

When I reached my office, I talked to Raven about the upcoming appointments. Then Dr. Sarah spotted me and asked me to join her for a cup of coffee. I didn't want to be with her, but I had no choice except to join her at the cafeteria. We sat down and she first talked about her tour to Turkey, and then kept asking me a whole bunch of different questions. When I felt that she was about to bring up the subject on Walter, I excused myself from her company and left. I bumped into Dr. Sam, and he congratulated me for my dedicated work at the hospital, and my hard work at the society.

As I eventually left the hospital, the weather was turning rough and it seemed like it was about to rain. I left about a half an hour earlier than usual, and I reached the society early. I tried not to look at Walter, although I could feel that he was continuously gazing at me. I ignored him completely and I consulted our senior worker, Miss Diana, to sort out the problems and other issues of children and co-workers. When I came out of the office, I still ignored him and didn't speak a word until Andy asked me to take everyone to the amusement park. I gave Andy a hug and told him that unfortunately we couldn't go. I gave him chocolates instead, and told him that we would all go later. Neither Walter, nor I, spoke to each other until we found ourselves in a situation in which we had too.

I had been searching for an extremely important file, but couldn't find it. And just as I was leaving, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Miss Laura, I think I found the important file you were looking for," he said, holding out the file towards me.

I took the file and mumbling a half-hearted thank you before I quickly walked away. I could not look at him. What he had said the day before was too much for me, and I didn't even want to see his face. I left without saying goodbye to anyone.

I wanted to go to a CD store that was far away, but had the best selection. It was quite a dangerous place due to gangs and ruffians frequented that area, but I had to buy some new CDs, and that was the best place. I took a cab; the driver was a nice man, but he dropped me on the main road about 300 meters away from the CD store. He left after I paid him, and I felt very alone. I looked around and I didn't see a single person on the street. I pulled my coat tightly around me as I felt a shiver run down my back, and started walking quickly towards the store.

I took more than half an hour selecting the best CDs, and when I finally finished and left the store, there were dark, threatening clouds in the sky, and it looked like it was already late in the evening. While I walked along the road looking for a cab, I shivered because the temperature had dropped dramatically. I had my coat on, but it wasn't enough for this type of weather. It was windy and it felt like it was about 15 degrees colder than it was in the morning.

I didn't find any cab, but I walked on with the thought that I may find a cab a little further down the road. Then I wondered if I should walk to the bus stop and take the bus instead, when suddenly, I started hearing footsteps behind me.

I gulped and started walking as fast as I could, but I still hadn't reached the main road because it was at a distance from the shop, and the bus stop was even further down the main road. The footsteps were getting closer and closer. My whole body felt icy and my legs were shaking. I just closed my eyes and ran as fast as my legs could carry me, hoping that they wouldn't give away underneath me. I didn't need to fall down now, with pursuers behind me.

I heard many footsteps and I was sure that there were more than two people, and they were constantly following me. I did not dare look back, but I could hear them coming closer. They were right behind me, but I kept on running until I was out of breath. I felt myself getting slower and I knew that they would catch me. Tears started to form in my eyes as one of them caught up and grabbed my hands and held them in a tight, painful grasp.

"What do you want? Please leave me alone!" I cried trying to push him away. He just laughed in my face and made me stumble along to where the others were.

I looked around and saw that they were a gang of five, and they were all smiling wickedly and winking at each other. Tears poured out of my eyes and down my cheeks. Well, I would at least struggle and try to make them let me go. I tried to slap one of them but he was too tall and strong. He seized my arm and twisted it painfully.

"Don't try anything of that sort, you little wench," his breath smelled of beer and I felt myself getting sick.

"You're just so pretty and cute, that we can't just kill you," another one said, laughing and pulling my hair. They were all muscular, healthy men, and it looked like there was no one I could escape. I started crying for Jennie and John, but I was helpless.

One of them came near me and whispered in a creepy voice, "Looks like you're still a virgin."

This was the worst thing ever possible and I found myself feeling faint, when suddenly, someone pushed through the ring they had formed around me and shoved the creepy guy away from me. He then grabbed my hand and clasped it tightly. I recognized him at once; it was Walter.

"Leave her alone or..." he shouted. The rest of his words were drowned by loud thunder which boomed overhead.

He caught me in his arms just as it started raining heavily. The lightning was very bright and the thunder rumbled and cracked continuously. In just a few minutes the storm became very violent and was accompanied by strong winds.

"What are you going to do to the chick?" asked one guy.

"She's definitely not going to be yours," said another.

Walter was holding me in his arms and my eyes never left his face. "Run to the backside, Laura! Run! Go!" he shouted and let go of my hand.

I turned around and looked at him with a shocked face. For the first time he called me Laura. I was hesitant and didn't run because I did not want to leave him alone with those ruthless killers. How was he going to fight them by himself, one against five? I stood, rooted to my spot, gazing at him.

He looked at me and shook his head. "Go, please go!"

"But..." I started to speak.

"Run!" he shouted again.

This time I blindly obeyed him. I ran as fast as I could with all power that was left in me. I could hear their voices rise in the fight and the sound of things being thrown around. I was very worried about Walter. Was he okay? Had they beat him up? Would they really kill him? Tears started in my eyes again.

I was frozen and the rain and wind had made it impossible to walk any further. I just stood there with my heart feeling like it was about to burst. With the steady pouring of the rain and the cold, I felt like I was about to die. My nerves were stunned and I couldn't move an inch. I wasn't even able to call John to come and get me because the signal on my phone was so weak. The rain was pouring down on my head as I stood there like a statue, thinking about what had just happened. I felt like I was about to freeze to death at any moment.

I started walking alongside the road again, stumbling and almost falling down every few steps. I felt a hand from behind touch me and grab my shoulder. And then I felt arms around me. I was almost unconscious as I tried to see who the person was. I was only able to see that he was a tall man. I felt a bit warm as he put his thick coat around me and held me very close, trying to keep me from shivering. I looked at him again, and through the haze that seemed to be blocking my eyes, I realized that the man was Walter.

I pushed him from me as hard as I could and started running. I ran straight to the bus stop without looking behind and tears were streaming down my face. I was crying like a child, and I couldn't control myself. When I reached the bus stop, no one was there. Everything was quiet and I was hit by the thought that no buses would be coming now. I was standing alone, when he came up behind me and grabbed my hand again. He looked at me with surprise written all over his face.

"What are you trying to do?" he exclaimed furiously.

"You shouldn't help people you don't like. And especially, don't help me!" I cried.

"Whoa! I am not helping you. I just want to pay back..." he tried to explain.

I was losing consciousness and was about to fall down but he caught me in his arms. He pulled his coat tighter around me and took my hand. He didn't speak a word as we walked. I had no idea where he was taking me, but I walked along obediently. Although I still hated him for his ungracious speech the other day, I gratefully thanked him for saving my life. He didn't ask me why I ran from him or why I behaved in such an awkward manner. Instead he replied with sarcasm in his voice:

"I didn't save your life for any other reason except that I wanted to repay my debt to you. My debt of the day you saved my life."

"Huh? You already have paid me," I answered, trying to keep my gaze away from him.

He did not say anything. Instead he moved toward a heavy motorbike and sat on it. "You don't want to die now, right?" he asked.

I looked at him mechanically with no expression in my eyes and then pushed myself up onto the back of his bike. So, he also knew how to ride a heavy bike. That was a new skill discovered.

"Hold onto me tightly and don't be scared," he said, turning to look at me. He gave me his helmet and started the bike. I felt a bit embarrassed to hold him but I had no choice, unless I wanted to fall off. I held him tightly and closed my eyes. He was like a prince, who saved a princess from the devils, but he wasn't really my prince and he kept changing every day.

I realized that he was only wearing a full sleeved shirt and was probably freezing; it made me feel guilty. When we reached my home, I jumped off the bike and walked to the gate silently. I stole a glance at him, but he did not look at me. I remembered that I was wearing his coat and threw it back to him. Then I smiled at him as a sign of thanks, but he drove away at his usual high speed without looking back.

As I entered the house, both John and Jennie both hugged me and wouldn't let me go. Jennie started crying because she was worried about me the whole time and I couldn't explain anything because I was in shock and my brain was numbed. They asked me a lot of questions but I was in a state of semi-unconsciousness. I could only hear their voices near me, and their hands shaking me. Then my consciousness completely slipped from me and I didn't know what happened after that.

I woke the next morning at around 9'o clock with my eyes unfocused and everything almost a blur. My eyes finally focused on Jennie pouring a cup of hot chocolate for me. She made me drink it and then asked me about what had happened yesterday. I didn't say anything except that I would tell her what happened later. Jennie helped me get dressed and assisted me down the stairs. Paul dropped us to the hospital and he and Jennie held my arms on both sides and helped me go upstairs. I had caught a cold and had a high fever, but it was impossible for me to leave my patients. I checked a few of them, and then asked John to handle the rest because I was feeling very weary.

Then Paul took me in his car again, and dropped me to the cancer society. As I worked, I remembered that today was Walter's last day at the society. I had to finish publishing the posters and charities for the society and I realized that almost all of the promoting work was completed with Walter's help. I tried to block out what happened yesterday, but memories of it kept coming back to me. Walter really did save me, but I kept wondering why he hated me so much. He said he saved me just because he wanted to pay back his debt. That meant that he had no feelings for me, and actually, neither should I have had any for him.

The evening passed very quickly and most of my work was completed. We were getting ready to leave when Walter came towards me. He whispered, "I have fulfilled my promise and I'll be leaving. Surely, I will miss all these children and co-workers; this place was fun, but I have repaid all my debts."

He then walked away silently and was gone, "Good bye," I managed to whisper, choking on my words. I turned around and started walking to the door when John appeared. He saw the tears in my eyes and wrapped his arms around me.

"You are definitely not going to miss him," he laughed. He wiped my tears and looked deeply into my eyes. "What are they for?"

"Too much dryness in winter," I replied trying to smile.

He held me in his arms and hugged me tightly because he knew what was in my heart. And I knew that it wasn't true that we can't fall in love with strangers. "Let's go," he whispered gently. We walked together to my favorite coffee shop and he tried to keep my spirits up. But I was silent as I tried to forget someone... But couldn't.

A/N
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