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It was late night. Beautiful night with sky so bright and moon so huge, it felt like all lights were switched on. A young woman sitting on the grave of her parents, tears were rolling on her cheeks. She had no one, she was abandoned and everything that left from them was a mother's necklace. Her brown teary eyes were sparkling in the moonlight, so she wiped tears from cheeks and touched and looked at her parents' gravestone. It was almost two years, since they died, but it hurt same way. Maybe it was because she was alone in this fight.
But she had to stand on her own feet and keep fighting. It was all the same - school, work, work and school. She's been studying at the university - classical and opera singing - because she always wanted to be an opera singer. Her mother was a singer and father played on guitar just for fun. And they both was so supported, they saw her every appearance and cheered her up, when her performance didn't go according to a plan. 'Voice is one of the most difficult instruments to use' mother told her once, 'don't rush and give it a time.' Instead of lullaby she used to sing an opera arias. Her favourite was 'Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix', she sang it every night. So she didn't give up on her dream to sing , even after they died. Because it wasn't only her dream, it was also their wish.
"Happy birthday, mom," she whispered, looked at the gravestone for the last time and went away. She left cemetery and waited for the night bus; it took you to the center of the town and because she didn't want to wait for another bus line, she decided to walk. It was about 15 minutes from her apartment and it wasn't the first time she did it.
But after few minutes, she noticed three guys are following her. "Shit," she cursed and walked faster. "Hey, love, where do you think, you're going? Wait for us!" she heard their drunk voices, but didn't turn and began to run instead. Suddenly one of them outran her and blocked the way. "Hello missy," he said and grinned. He was drunk, in his hand he held an empty bottle of beer. The others came to him and stared at her. "Don't worry, we just wanna talk to you," the other said, "maybe have a little fun, huh? What do you think?" "Let me go, or my boyfriend will kil you. He.. he... he's waiting for me right on that... that street," she was lying, she didn't have a friend, let alone a boyfriend, but this was the only thing, that came to her mind. She was scared as hell, her hands were shaking, she didn't know what to do - scream, call for a help, run? "Oh, really? Well, let's go, let's say 'hi' to your fake boyfriend," the man with bottle said and he approached your direction.
She didn't have any idea, what happened, next minute was like in a dream. She remembered everything a little blurry, but one thing was more than clear - deep clean comforting voice saying: "Hey, honey, sorry it took me so long, my boss kept me at work a little bit longer. Shall we go?" someone grabbed and held her hand from behind and led her around these men - they were staring, but they didn' t say a word and let her leave. "Just come with me and don't look back, ok?" She heard his voice and didn't resist, she just walked with him. He led her through two blocks and entered an opened pub, there he let her go, turned and checked the street.
"They are gone, are you ok?" he looked at her and gently touched herarm, tried to get an eye contact. "Yes, I guess," she said and raised her eyes. He was tall, handsome, had a light brown short hair and beautiful kind blue eyes. "Tha... thank you," she whispered nervously. "No problem," he smiled, "I know, your parents told you this like a million times, but it is quite dangerous for a woman to walk this part of the town alone during night." "I know," she nodded. She was quiet, he watched her and asked: "Do you want me to escort you home?"
"Oh...," moan came through her lips, "no," she shook a head, "don't get me wrong, I am really grateful, but you are stranger, just like them, well not like them, you are good and they were bad, but still I don't think it's a good idea. I don't know you..." She was talking and inside her head a voice were screaming, because she felt like a total idiot, who can't compose a normal sentence. "Well, I am Chris and it means I am no stranger anymore," he smirked, "but I get it. At least let me call you a cab and buy you a drink before it arrives." She hesitated for a while. "So?" he raised his eyebrowse.
"Well..." she paused, "yes, but only one coffee and that's all." "Deal," he smiled and went to the bar. He came back with two cups of coffee and gave one to her. "My name is Haley, by the way," she said silently and warmed her hands by grabbing the mug.
