The rain had fallen heavy and unrelenting, casting a veil of grey over the streets. Anne stood under the small bus stop shelter, huddled against the chill of the weather. The smell of wet pavement mingled with the scent of fresh earth as the downpour seemed to engulf everything in its path. It wasn't the first time she had been caught in a storm, but today felt different. Every raindrop felt like a reminder of her frailty. Whenever she caught a fever, it could take weeks before she felt like herself again—a thought that always brought a sense of helplessness. But for now, she stood alone, watching the world spin around her, untouched by the pain she often felt inside.
Just as the rain began to intensify, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps splashing through the puddles. Her gaze shifted, and she saw him—a man, drenched from head to toe, hurrying toward the bus stop shelter. He was soaked through, his clothes clinging to his frame, and his face was slightly flushed from the cold, though his eyes seemed distant and lost in thought.
Liam. She recognized him instantly.
He wasn't just any man. Liam was well-known in their town. He had made a name for himself, rising quickly in the business world, establishing a thriving startup that had garnered attention in the media. He was the sort of person everyone admired from a distance, a model of success and charm. But despite his achievements, there was something about him that seemed... distant. Like he was always standing on the edge of something, just out of reach.
Liam glanced over, his eyes briefly meeting hers. There was a flicker of recognition, but his expression didn't change. He was far too distracted by the weather, as he hurried into the shelter to escape the relentless downpour.
Anne stood silently, allowing him space, trying not to intrude on his solitude. He looked troubled, his brows furrowed as he shook the rainwater from his hair. His appearance was at odds with his usual well-put-together self. In fact, it felt almost... human. Vulnerable, even.
As he stood there, trying to catch his breath, Anne whispered under her breath, her words more to herself than to anyone else. "He is lucky."
Liam, caught off-guard by her soft voice, turned toward her. His eyes narrowed in curiosity as he spoke. "Sorry, did you say something?"
Anne flinched slightly, realizing she had spoken aloud. She quickly shook her head, offering an apologetic smile. "It's nothing," she said quietly, not wanting to explain herself further.
Liam hesitated, his gaze lingering on her. There was something about her that piqued his interest—a softness, a fragility that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Her face, pale and delicate, held an air of melancholy, but not in the way that made her seem weak. There was an inner strength in her sadness, a quiet dignity that drew him in.
Before he could ask her anything else, the bus arrived. The door slid open, and Liam instinctively stepped forward, but as he reached into his pocket, he realized he didn't have his bus card. A small sense of frustration bubbled up inside him. He hadn't expected to be traveling by bus today. It wasn't his usual mode of transport, and he had been in such a hurry to get home that he hadn't taken the time to prepare.
Anne, who had already boarded, turned around when she noticed his predicament. Without a second thought, she stood up and walked over to him, her movements graceful despite her obvious exhaustion. "You don't have a card?" she asked softly.
Liam nodded sheepishly. "I wasn't expecting to take the bus today. Guess I wasn't prepared."
With a gentle smile, Anne reached into her bag and pulled out her bus card, handing it to him. "Here. It's not much, but it'll cover the fare."
Liam blinked, taken aback by her kindness. He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, Anne was already walking back to her seat. "Thank you," he said, his voice laced with sincerity. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Anne only nodded in response, her soft smile remaining. She didn't ask for anything in return, didn't expect him to repay her. She was the kind of person who did good deeds without a second thought, even when it cost her something. Liam couldn't help but admire that, though he didn't fully understand why.
As the bus continued on its route, Liam couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen Anne before. Her face, her presence, felt familiar in a way that he couldn't explain. But where had they met? When? There was no time for him to dwell on it, but the thought nagged at him, like a memory just out of reach.
His mind wandered back to his past, and for the first time in a long while, memories that he had long buried resurfaced.
He remembered a rainy day, much like this one, when his world had shattered. He was just sixteen, a carefree young man about to finish his final year of school. That day had been supposed to be special—a day when his parents, both successful doctors, had planned to surprise him with his favorite video game. They had even called ahead, telling him they'd be home soon. They were always so busy, and this was their way of making it up to him.
But as he stood waiting at school, excited to see his parents, the police arrived with tragic news. His parents had been involved in a car accident. A drunk driver had run a red light, slamming into their car. The truck had crushed it, and they didn't survive.
Liam's world crumbled that day. His parents, whom he had always known were busy and distant, had loved him deeply. He never doubted that. But the pain of losing them was still unbearable, especially on a day that had promised so much. In the days that followed, he learned that they had been bringing him not only the game but also a gift they thought he would love, something he had wanted for years but never mentioned. A gift that, when he saw it, made the loss even more painful.
His parents' friend, Linda, had come to take him in, and though he was grateful for her support, it was never the same. No one could replace his parents. His heart ached every time he saw the game they had bought him. It was a reminder of everything that was lost, everything he never had the chance to say.
As Liam shook himself from the painful memory, he realized the storm outside had calmed. The rain had subsided, and the world was quieter now, almost as if it, too, was remembering.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was Anne, her number now saved in his contacts. He hadn't expected to feel so drawn to her, but there was something about her—her quiet, unspoken strength—that stirred something in him. Maybe, just maybe, she had a story of her own that was waiting to be shared.
The bus continued its journey, but Liam couldn't help but wonder how much of the past had shaped the person he had become. He didn't know where this connection with Anne would lead, but he had a feeling that their paths had crossed for a reason. A reason he hadn't yet fully understood.
End of Chapter 3
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