It had been years. Years since he buried the love of his life under this tree. Each time he walked through the graves, this tree was the only thing he could see. All the other deaths, they weren’t there. He had only lost one person in his life, and it was her. Soledad. Nelligan always wanted to move on, always needed to stop thinking about her. The picture of her long blond hair and her big blue eyes was killing him, little by little. But still, he couldn’t stand not coming there at least once in a week. Seeing her grave was helping him somehow to let her go. That’s the reason why his feet guided him up to the cemetery, even if it was way past midnight. The Australian was suffering from insomnia since his childhood, so nobody could be surprised to see him awake at this late time. A white rose in his right hand, Nelligan pushed the iron door which creaked by closing. Fortunately, the guy never believed in ghosts or anything supernatural. Once he got to Soledad’s grave, Broinowski sat down on the cold grass and laid his head on the stone. Silence, complete silence. That’s what he liked so much about this place, especially at this hour. Nobody could come disturbing his mourning. Well, until Nelligan heard feminine voices in his back. At first, he thought there were two people talking to each other, but he rapidly figured out that there was only one voice. Some girl talking to herself, and she was even realizing it. Nelligan didn’t need more time to forget all about Soledad and concentrate on this weirdo young woman. Wasn’t it bizarre to meet a chick at 2 a.m. in the morning, in a cemetery, speaking out loud to nobody but herself? The Alpha got up without a sound and walked across the graves, getting closer and closer to the girl. He couldn’t see her well, only a silhouette he didn’t recognize. Her last sentence made Nelligan understand that she was in trouble: no phone, no car. That’s when he decided to intervene.
« Do you often talk to yourself or is it just tonight? »
He said it with a smile on his face, although she probably couldn’t see it. By the way she jumped and screamed, Nelligan understood that he should have been more careful about the way he introduced himself.
« I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you at all. I just heard you and thought you could need some help, or maybe a ride home. »
It was unlike him to be so opened to strangers, because he was used to be all reserved and shy, but the girl looked innocent and lost.
« I’m Nelligan, by the way. »