the sound of cars rushing by on the dimly lit street while dan walks to the nearsest bus station helps to block out his thoughts. it was dark out and it was just him and the small bag he had came with. he had left so quickly, he only grabbed what was necessary. dan pulls his jacket further up his neck, shivering against the chill. he had no idea where he was going to go. his first thought was go to his job but his boss would surley make some calls back to him and that wasn't an option.

so, he walks to the bus station, hoping he could ask someone directions to the closest  hotel. dan wasn't that familar with london; he had only came here for a month or two when he was 18 and before that he had lived in a completely different city. he regrets not getting out and actually exploring when he was given the opportunity bit back then...

there was nobody at the bus stop. dan sits down on the bench and looks at the schedule sign posted on the nearby pole. he had just missed it. it was the last route of the night and he had missed it. at last resort, he pulls out his phone. it was 11:00 at night. everyone was going home or already asleep. who could he call? not his mother. the first call to her would be telling her that he got kicked out and he couldn't do that.

dan sighs. he could either sleep here or walk till he found a place to stay. another car rushes by and he hugs his bag to his chest, his eyes filling up with tears. "the least that bastard could do is drop me off somewhere!" he shouts to no one.

he wipes his eyes before they spill on his cheeks and stands. he couldn't sit here crying over a situation that had been over with for a few hours. he needed to walk, to get his mind off of it and if that meant walking all night into the morning, then that's what he was going to do.

*****

dan's feet hurt. he felt the blisters rubbing his shoes on the backs of his heels but still he kept walking. his phone had died a long time ago since he had turned on his gps for a hotel that was 3 miles away walking distance but ended up getting lost when it had died.

his feet carry him around every corner and every turn. none of the cars pay any attention to him as he trudges by. dan felt like he was on autopilot. like his body moves automatically to wherever it wanted to take him and he let it. he's tired, and the slow trudge he was making turns in to a sluggish drag. he was about to collapse but there wasn't a bus stop in sight. so he wills his body to keep moving.

he can't though. he was tired, hungry and thirsty. so thirsty. dan stumbles over a speed bump. he lifts his head and looks around. he had no idea that he had drifted into the middle of the road but now that he's looking, this setting looks familiar....bright headlights cloud his vision and a horns honks as he quickly shuffles out of the way only to lose his footing and trip backwards over the adjacent sidewalk. his bag flies out of his hand and he lands hard on the ground.

sniffing, dan just lies there and lets the trapped tears flow freely down his face. "help..." he whispers softly, "please.."

his vision gets cloudy and dark. his head starts to swim so he closes his eyes.

a woman from a few houses down was swinging on her porch swing. she loves the way everything looks in the middle of the night. how the bugs are loud and chirpy. she hums to herself, swinging her feet.

a car flies by and she hears a horn honk and looks to her left to see a figure crumple to the ground.

her heart beats fast as she stands up and opens the door. "dad! get out here someone's hurt!"

she runs to the person, forgetting her shoes on the porch, she crosses the street and is praying every step of the way that they're okay. she slides to her knees, and hears a rip in the fabric of her nightgown. she puts a hand on the shoulder and gently turns the person towards her. it was a man. her hand shake as she glances over his body, no blood or scrapes. she leans down to his chest and waits a beat before she feels a stuttered rise. he was okay.

"tilly, what are you doing?" her father's concerned voice yells as he hobbles over to her.

"it's a man, father! he's burning up and sweating, i think he's dehydrated but he's also unconscious."

her father kneals down beside her as he also inspects him. a shock and then a smile slides onto his aged face. "stay here. i'll go get the manager to help bring him in."

tilly nods as he stands and then walks away. after a minute, she looks behind her shoulder to make sure he was gone before delicately touching his cheek. he moves slightly and she jumps back.

"are you awake?" she asks.

his eyes stay closed and she hesitates before touching his face agian. he was soft. he had damp brown curls clinging to his forhead, an attractive face.

"'mom?" he mumbles as he leans into her hand. tilly gasps shocked as he lifts his hand to slowly touch hers.

"amazing." she breathes.

i told you things would be different

the fact that #1: i made this myself so applaud me

and #2: it's true so....

~alivia