Bittersweet and Frostbitten

Chapter One

“Andrew Thomas, a man of nineteen years, responsible, wealthy, and educated.” Those are the words you’ll hear from any of Mr. Thomas’s friends. Mr. Thomas has raised Andrew along with his mother in England for the first few years of his life. When he turned ten he arrived in New York City. Mr. Thomas was a wealthy man, the Thomas family tree has been rich for the last few decades, which meant young Andrew didn’t have to worry. Andrew was a man of good virtue, but sometimes maybe too good enough to upset his father.

One time when Andrew was six, he let a stray cat into his home. He fed him milk, found him a place to sleep, and cared for him. Mr. Thomas was petrified when he found out. Then he grew angry, and pushed the cat out onto the streets. Andrew cried for the following days knowing he’ll never see the cat again.

Another time when Andrew was eleven, a kid at his school was was becoming more unhealthy and his family was losing money. So Andrew snuck some money from his father to help his friend’s family. Andrew was abused and beaten when his father found out. Mr. Thomas was not pleased with his son back then at all.

Once Andrew moved to America he wanted to set things right. He would always listen to his father, please his father’s friends, and obey the words that commanded him to do something. His father took in a liking for his only son. He brought him to fancy dinners, business trips he didn’t understand, and tried to be the best father he could be. When Andrew turned eighteen, Mr. Thomas even provided him with a home. It was a large, well-furnished home just for his son. Andrew was very happy with his home, unaware that immigrant families nearby are living in one-room homes trying to get by on one dollar.

***

It was snowing the night Andrew was in his house all by himself. He felt lonely, he thought he would be used to this feeling by now, but he wasn’t. The clock struck eleven as he sat on his couch, spending his time doing nothing. It was December 12th, 1911. An ordinary Tuesday for Andrew. But tonight he decided to go take a walk on the streets of new york.

He walked down streets, and watched as he peacefully made his way by the lights. The city was quiet tonight, and he has never felt so at peace. Tonight he finally thought he could just be himself and nothing else.

At that thought, fate stepped in. A stray cat named Josephine Lang sat on a bridge slowly dying a peaceful death. But this girl was not a cat, and it took Andrew a few seconds to realize she needed his help just likes the cat he found years before. He rushed up to her, “Miss, are you alright?” She didn’t answer. “Miss, do you need help?” He asked more harshly. She looked up, her eyes swollen, with purple lips, and a pale white face covered in light freckles. Her blue eyes hung on for dear life, as the curls surrounding her face were becoming more frizzy. She was freezing to death, with nothing but a long flowing dress on, with short sleeves. Her arms laid across her stomach, covered with goosebumps.

Andrew knew there was no time to lose. He took her frigid hands into his. He realized it wasn’t enough. Her eyes became weak, and gradually closed. But she was still breathing, there was still hope. He scooped her up into his grasp and carried her. He carried her across the quiet city, the luminous lights, until he made his way into his house.

When he made his way into the living room he rested her on the couch, and lit a fire. After surrounding her in a blanket, his hands patted her as he quietly said, “You’re safe now... You can wake up...” And he thanked God as her eyes fluttered open. “I should make you some hot tea, love, would you like that?” Without a word she barely nodded her head. To know she was alive made Andrew smile. Andrew had a winning smile, so white and innocent, made all the eligible young ladies fall in love with him.

After he made the tea he brought it out to her. For a while they sat quietly in the living room as their faces flashed with the yellow and golds of the fire. The only sounds Andrew could hear was the crackling of the fire, and the sips from her tea. At first she was so cold she could barely settle the tea right, or stop shaking. Eventually she settled down.

“Mmm... so miss, would you like to share your name?” No words came from her mouth. She didn’t even look at him, her eyes were still set on the fire while it sparked in her eyes. “Hmm... maybe you’d like to tell me why you were out in the cold?” Again, no words. Andrew patiently waited for an answer but her eyes still looked upon the fire. Andrew wasn’t annoyed, but yet he still mentioned, “I would like to know. I am the one the one who saved you.” That’s when her eyes locked into his. For minutes she stared at him, as he waited for a reply, but no answer.

But as those few minutes passed by her could see the blue eyes in the light. Behind them showed a dark past, hidden behind a decently-pretty face. The girl who sat in front of Andrew wasn’t the prettiest girl he’s ever seen. Yet, in a way, he was captivated by her. She was a whole other world. He could tell they don’t come from the same class. He could notice she was poor girl who would’ve died that night if he hadn’t found her.

After a long time the goosebumps went away, along with the purple lips. Occasionally she’d cough or sneeze, but otherwise she almost looked fine. “Oh sorry love, I lost track of time, I have a guest room right up stairs, you can stay here for the night if you’d like.”

He helped her get up, and wrapped her around in her blanket. He led her up the stairs, and opened the wooden door into the bedroom. “Now if you need anything you can just ask me, I’ll be right down the hall.” He said in a parent-like way, although he was talking to a girl who seemed to be about his age. “Anything you want to say to me?” He chuckled waiting for a ‘thank you’.

But what he got was not what he expected. She rushed over to him and flew her arms around him pulling his lips to greet hers. Andrew could feel the blanket falling down in between them. Oh, but Andrew didn’t mind at all. Innocent, and virtuous Andrew didn’t want to upset the girl so he pressed his soft, warm hands to her back pulling her into the kiss.In fact, this was his first kiss, and he just couldn’t seem to pull away. His soft lips fit perfectly between her cold ones. He wanted it to last, so he kept pressing her body closer to his, also trying to keep her warm. But it was so slow, and innocent.

The perfect moment came to an end as she pulled back. Her eyes whispered “Sorry”, but Andrew just grinned. His hands slid down her arms, hoping to give off more heat until her took her hands in his. “It’s fine, honestly.” He just couldn’t seem to wipe the grin off his face. At first Josephine seemed puzzled, but at last she smiled too.