SOME tears slipped out of Victoria's eyes unbidden as she closed the door of the craft shop she'd come to think of as her second home. She brushed them away as she walked toward her car. She just needed to make it home and then she could let all the tears out. She didn't look back as she walked away. Would it be possible to get around town and avoid this street for a while so she wouldn't have to be reminded.
VICTORIA was glad the parking lot was mostly empty, so no one would notice her tears. It had been snowing and she pulled her coat around her tighter to stay warm. She'd have to use the same coat for another winter. Now with loosing her job she wouldn't be able to afford that new coat she had been eyeing in the window, or the trip to her parents for Christmas. She couldn't think about that now, or she would really start crying. The tears made her cheeks feel even more cold and she continued to brush them away as they trickled from her eyes.
HER job had fit her perfectly and had been a God-send. Alexandra was a friend and a co-worker and and found her the job. Working at the craft store was interesting, and allowed her to meet lots of people, paid well, and gave her a discount on supplies for her own scrapbooking and cross stitching addictions. The store wasn't doing well, and as the newest employee she was also the first to be cut. She tried not to be angry at Alexandra as she reached for her keys, but it was hard not to take this personally.
THE keys were usually in the front pocket of her purse. Where were they? She reached for the door handle to see if she had left the car unlocked? No, it was firmly locked. She must have just been distracted and placed them in her bag instead and she searched her bag. It must have been snowing a while, the snow had piled up on the windshield. Victoria wasn't a winter person and got no joy out of cleaning off the car and waiting for it to warm up. The tears flowed freely now as the frustration inside her built. She stepped forward to place her bag on the hood of the car to look better but as she did so her right foot slipped on some ice.
JERRY came to this strip mall every Friday at the same time. He would pick up his cleaning and drop off his clothes for the week and get his errands done. He had spent more time visiting with Mr. Wong in the cleaners then he wanted. As he started the car again he let the car sit for a while to warm up and spied a young woman leave the craft store. She seemed upset as she walked across the near empty parking lot. His first thoughts were how beautiful she was. But she seemed to be upset and crying. He wondered what happened?
JERRY was ready to pull away when he saw her slip on the ice. Jerry quickly got out of his car and went to her, offering her his hand. "May I be of some assitance?" he asked as he noticed her desheveled appearance from the fall. She looked up at the stranger talking to her. She's hoped she could be alone in her humiliation but even that wasn't possible. Her tears continued stronger this time from the humiliation and the pain in her ankle.
THINKING to himself, she is even more beautiful up close. He couldn't tell the color of her eyes because she tried to avoid eye contact. Her long, curly hair made him want to run his fingers through it. Her face looked so sad he promised himself he would give her something to smile about. He reached down and helped her to her feet. Brushing the snow off her well worn jacket. She looked liked she was freezing. Is that all she had to keep herself warm?
JERRY'S heart melted, he wanted to help her as he saw her tears and hands shaking. He didn't know why or how, but he knew that he must help her through this ordeal. She tried to gracefully to stand on one foot wincing as she put pressure on the other foot. She forced the tears to stop and after self consiously wiping her tears she looked into the face of her rescuer.
HIS eyes caught her attention first. They were filled with kindness. His hair was short with some gray in it. He was certainly older then herself. He was handsome and wore a winter coat that looked to be eternally warm for the cold seemed to have no affect on him. She smiled, not because the pain had eased but because his eyes seemed to tell her that he was safe.
HE must have thought she was feeling better though because he let go of her arm which forced her to place weight on her twisted ankle and she cried out in pain. He grabbed for her again with both arms to steady her. She caught his arm before she could fall again. The only good part of this pain was that he would think the pain was from the ankle only and she wouldn't have to explain her internal pain.
"WHERE does it hurt?" He asked. The kindness in his voice matched the kindness in his eyes. SHE wanted to tell him about all her pain but wasn't very good at asking for help, instead said, "I seem to have twisted my ankle. If you can help me get in the car I can get home and get some ice on it." She didn't want to inconvenience this kind stranger any more than needed.
"I don't think you should put any weight on it at all. I don't think you're in any shape to drive," he spoke softly.
"OH, I'm sure it will be fine once I get out of this freezing weather." she spoke more harshly then she meant to. She could feel herself on the edge of tears and needed desperately to have a good cry and she preferred it to not be in front of this stranger again.
"WELL, at least let me clean off your car and get it started for you. Give me your keys." His kind voice didn't show that he had noticed her harshness. She fumbled in her purse, looking for her keys and trying to maintain her balance. She was starting to get into a panic because the keys weren't there. She was unable to restrain her tears. This was too much.
"I can't find my keys." Victoria said through the sobs.
"YOU need to get warm, come sit in my car. You can look for them there." Guiding her the short distance to his now warm car, Jerry helped her in the front seat. Feeling her next to him, hearing her sobs, and knowing she was in such pain was having a profound affect on Jerry. He couldn't remember when the last time a woman made him feel this way.
"YOU can empty your purse onto the front seat there and look for your keys. While you are doing that, I will clean off your car." Victoria looked up, tears streaming down her face, and could only nod. Taking the brush from his car, Jerry started to clean off her windows. As he cleaned the driver side window, he noticed the keys still in the ignition. He tried each door but the car was securely locked and with the weather as bad as it was, there would not be anyone available for hours to help her, except himself.
WALKING back to his car, Jerry slid into the front seat next to her. She looked as if she had the troubles of the world on her shoulders. Too much pain for one so young and so beautiful.
"EXCUSE me Ms, I found your keys." She looked up surprised as his words. "They are still in your car."
