Time -Chapter 1-
"Last night on Bender Street in this alley, the body of a young male was located. Badly beaten with many stab wounds..." An older male wiped his eyes, blowing his nose on a fresh Kleenex, he listened to the reporter closely or so it seemed. "Grandpa, what's wrong?" A young girl asked. The male looked at her through sad eyes. He responded in a hoarse voice. "Sit down." He wiped his eyes with a new tissue. "Remember the time you asked me why I wasn't married?" the little girl nodded her head. "I'll answer your question." He took a long breath, closing his eyes, and exhaling. "Turn the T.V. off." She followed his command, sitting back down on the ground. The old man took out his wallet removing a small picture; he looked at it for awhile. Reminiscing on the past, tears dragged down his wrinkled face as he grinned. "What are you looking at?" The little girl asked. The man sighed before turning the photo, she looked at it awkwardly. "Who are those guys?" The girl asked. A sad sigh escaped the man's mouth as he tried to form words. "Those..t-two guys." He inhaled, trying to compose himself. "are me. And my..my deceased..de." He broke down in tears. The girl getting up and patting her elder's back. "Let it out." She told him. He cried for a few more minutes before fully composing himself. "my dead lover." Her jaw dropped, her hand covered her mouth. "I'm so sorry Grandpa." She hugged him tightly. "So you're." Two pats on the back gave her the answer. She grabbed the photo and looked at it. They didn't look too bad, young but not bad. "How'd he die?" Tears formed in the man's eyes. "Look at the date..on the back." She turned the photo to show a long message and a date. "September 3rd. I will forever remember that day." The girl focused on the message, understanding some parts, ignoring those she couldn't. The man sighed again. "Dear Jack, tonight was wonderful. I-I hope we get to meet again. The feeling of you in my presence brings unconditional joy to my heart. I know plans change, but I ask that you never and I promise I won't. I'm not calling you back, b-because its mean to c-call someone twice in the same h-hour. Consider t-this a c-call f-for another d-date. Love James. September 3rd." She put the photo down, tears rolled down her young face. As she felt the pain of her grandfather. "If you don't want to tell me. You don't have to." He shook his head. "This must come to light." He wiped his eyes, and handed the young girl a tissue. "Forgive me, its all I ask." He spoke lowly. She was about to respond when he started again. "25 years ago..."