I

It was daybreak and Simone lay awake, slowly waking from her hazy sleep. She had an unusual dream again. Usually they came in fragments, bits of information she usually couldn't understand nor piece together. But that didn't really matter, she'd never remember by the time she had fully woken up.

She lifted the covers off from her limp and moistened body, a sheen of light sweat lay sticky on her skin, making her pyjamas cling to her figure. She stripped out of her discomforting clothes and walked into her bathroom, going through her mental agenda of what priorities lay ahead of her that day. Get some banknotes, do some shopping. She let the cold water hit her vulnerable body full blast, taking her breath out in ragged gasps as ridged goose pimples formed over her skin. Slowly, her body grew accustomed to this cold assault and her breathing grew normal. 'I should see Tom today,' she thought. She shut off the water and stepped out from behind the shower curtain. Slowly padding towards her towel as wet puddles began forming under her steps, she suddenly realised something was strangely out of place. She wrapped the towel around her still chilled body and turned to look at the mirror. She couldn't see her reflection. The mirror was completely fogged up as if she had just taken a hot, steamy shower. She wiped her hand across the mirror and looked at herself through the streak; confused eyes stared back. 'I had a cold shower didn't I? Or was it hot?' Simone padded back towards her shower and turned the cold knob on. 'Who takes hot showers during the summer, come on.' she touched the running water and retracted her hand instantly as if she had been burned. She slowly put her fingers under the running water and felt it turn from warm to cold.

"Did I...?" she asked herself outloud, her voice echoeing faintly off the tiled walls. Her eyebrows remained furrowed together in confusion as she turned off the water. Her phone began to ring.

---

"Simone, over here," a dark haired man with thick rimmed glasses flagged Simone towards a grungy looking patio table outside a small coffee shop.

"Have you had a bite yet?" he asked as she plopped down across from him.

"No," she replied. "I came as soon as you called."

"Silly girl, breakfast is the most important meal of the day," he grinned mischieviously and took a sip of his coffee. His dark hair was messy and unbrushed, long bangs falling over his eyes. In addition to needing a desperate haircut was a shave. Almost as if he hadn't had one in a week's time, his beard looked almost as messy as his hair, sticking out at odd angles. Even in this weather he wore gloves, cut off at the digits, and a fading, overwashed scarf. Although appearances might be deceiving, in this case it was true. Under the layer of unruly slop was an attractive man.

"Shouldn't you toss that raggedy old thing now?" Simone teased as she reached over the table towards his scarf. He reacted defensively and lightly slapped her hand out of reach.

"I'll have you know that this is still in great condition and wears extremely well. Unlike women's undergarments, I go for the comfort instead of aestheticism. Thank you very much."

"Did I mention it gives off a certain smell?"

"Did I mention I love you?" Simone laughed at his sarcastic comment.

"Why Aidan, you never told me that you've worn women's underwear before," she raised an eyebrow. Aidan flicked his newspaper back open and resumed to reading it.

"Ahem, no comment." Simone smiled. Even under the worst circumstances, Aidan had always somehow managed to make her smile, making her forget her worries as if it was one of her fragmented dreams.

"Now are you going to tell me what was so important that I had to come here starving? Or are you going to treat me to a meal?" Aidan abruptly folded his newspaper.

"All right, Simone, hear me out. I have a plan," Aidan enthusiastically spoke as equally as he did with his hands, moving them about to emphasize the importance of his words.

"A plan? And what sort of plan might that be?" Simone cupped her right hand under her chin.

"Okay, hear me out. We both hitchhike on a plane to Montreal, surviving only on free packets of stale peanuts and tap water. When we arrive there, we get married at the Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde."

"And?" her facial expression remained inquisitive.

"Well, that's about all I've come up so far." Simone laughed.

"How is that a plan?"

"I said that I had 'a' plan. I didn't say that it was brilliant or that it was thoroughly thought out. But hey, it's still a plan," he smiled crookedly and watched her laugh. He leaned in a little closer.

"Seriously though Simone, are you all right now?" Simone recovered from her laughter and looked at a now somewhat serious Aidan.

"Aidan, I'm fine. Whatever made you think that I wasn't?" Aidan glanced down and wiped down over his mouth, looking pensive.

"What are you planning on doing today?"

"Well, I need to withdraw some money at the bank, get some shopping done, and I was going to go visit Tom," she quickly averted her eyes from Aidan's stare.

"What? Tom?" Aidan sighed. "You have to forget about the past. Simone, please, all your time is being wasted- live your life now. Just stop going there." Simone looked back to meet his pleading eyes. "Please."

---

Aidan had taken Simone to the Aquarium that afternoon but she couldn't help but be more distracted. Simone loved the ocean but the sight of seeing animals walled up behind a glass prison made her feel claustrophobic. 'Oh Tom,' she thought. Nausea crept to the back of her throat and she knew she couldn't stay there any longer. They left and walked up the path to the busy downtown district. An ambulance raced by, blaring lights and wailing sirens, stopping short a block ahead of them. Simone cringed slightly but forced herself to walk on. Unwillingly but out of some morbid fascination, she turned slightly to the forming crowd of spectators and saw a man lying on the side of the road, surrounded by shattered glass and a pool of growing blood. Policemen were forcing the crowds back as they were trying to secure the surrounding area. She grew faint and her knees buckled. She clasped her hand over her mouth tightly, trying to keep herself from vomitting.

"Simone, are you all right?" Aidan knelt down beside her, looking at her with complete concern. She nodded deliberately, tasting bitterness in her mouth.

"Can you walk?" she nodded agian, afraid that opening her mouth would encourage upheaval of her lunch. Aidan wrapped his hands around her arms and helped her up. He had her head rest partially on his chest, protectively keeping her eyes away from the scene.

"Let's get you out of here," he almost whispered. "You shouldn't be seeing this." She closed her eyes and let him lead her out of eyesight from the accident.

"Aiden," she grimaced, imagining the lingering metallic smell of blood.

"Hm?" was his reply.

"I want to go see Tom," she said quietly.

"Simone, I don't think-"

"I need to see him Aiden," she interrupted him, her voice rising only slightly to make her point. He grew silent for a moment then replied,

"Okay."

They arrived 26 minutes later, remaining silent throughout their busride. Simone walked passed the heavy metal gates, already open as if expecting her, welcoming her. She saw the same familiar old architect of angels in the distance. Some pillars were new. The air smelled heavy like pine and fresh turned over soil like it usually did. She continued to walk down the path until she found where Tom lay buried.