as the hour of midnight fast approached i sat weery eyed in a small booth in the corner. the bar was bustling even at that time. i heard laughter from my right and deep drunken conversations to my left. i sat with half a glass of warm beer that i'd craddled for almost an hour. as i sat and listened to the noises around me i heard a familiar voice. i leant forward and looked over toward the pool table. gathered around it were six or so teenagers enthralled in being allowed in pubs like this now. through the group i could just make out Natalie. i waved to her and ccaught her attention. as she walked over i thought back to when i'd known her. all those years ago.
i was a young bright eyed boy of eighteen. i'd finished college that day and was out on the town looking to find trouble. the september air was chilled and my shirt was hardly protection against it. as i walked alone toward where i was due to meet my friends i heard a shrill scream from an alley behind the Lamb And Flag. it was a womans voice screaming for help. being the person i was back then i didn't think twice and ran down the alley. as the woman came into focus i could see a man grasping her. his face twisted with violence,
"what are you doing?" I asked in as manly a voice as i could.
he looked up at me and thrust his arm forward. i could see the glimmering blade in his hand,
"you wanna back off son" he said menacingly.
i knew i couldn't defeat this man. he was twice my size and mch older. i also knew i couldn't flee. the womans eyes pleaded with me. i stood there for what felt like an age. the image seered into my mind for the rest of my days. the woman, who must have been only my age, grasped by this animals arm. i can still recall the outfit she wore. the short black skirt, the tight fitting cream top without sleeves, the high heeled boots offering her thin pale legs protection from the cold. she mouthed the words 'help me' and begged me with her eyes. i stepped forward being as brave as i could,
"let her go" i said lowdly hoping someone else would hear.
noone came to aid me. the man threw the woman aside and walked slowly toward me closing the ten foot gap between us,
"what you gonna do about it?" he asked,
I stood frozen in fear unable to answer as he drew ever closer. soon he was upon me and i saw his arm draw back. the knife would soon pierce my skin. i thought briefly of my mother as i awaited his strike. he slumped to the floor. my eyes blurred and i couldn't think what had happened. Stood behind where the man fell the woman stood holding half of a brick,
"we better go" she said with an eerie calm,
i followed her out of the alley and we mingled in with the other revellers of the night. as we walked directionless we spoke very little,
"you saved my life" she muttered,
i stayed silent unable to understand what had happened. my feet led to my flayt eventually and she was still with me. i asked her in and she followed me. now sat on my sofa warm cups of tea in our grasp we both starred emptily at the television screen as if we expected it to turn itself on.
the night went without memory but from that night for the next six years me and Natalie barely parted. together as lovers and the bestest of friends. but as with most relationships it failed bitterly and we parted ways. ten years passed without a word from each other. now she was in this pub walking toward me. My mind casts back to the night we met. the man and the knife, her and a brick, wandering aimlessly through the streets. she smiles as she nears, i smile in return. she sits beside me without saying a word. i drink my warm beer to loosen me throat as i ask,
"how have you been Natalie?",