I've Been There Before

“Hum?” Cayne Filocci was astonished once again to stare at Grace standing by the road.

Under the dim street lights, Grace stood still; her shadow was really lonely to look miserable. He almost believed this was a weather-beaten old woman standing there; she, from head to foot, appeared to be so aging with what she encountered for these years.

Thus, Cayne turned to be more curious about her…what was she like? Why did she seem to be so weak and dying at such a young age?

“In my dorm…I just have noodle and spring onion as well as some eggs. No better food for you.”

In the wind at night, Cayne could not hear other voices but got touched by her…she was standing under the street lights for long time to merely think about what kind of food she would treat him, just to exchange for his tips.

After all, she told him what she had at home; and she could not prepare something better for him.

Right now, Cayne regarded the money in his hands to be nothing, then he glanced at it. It was not too much but caused her consider carefully to give out the best things she had now…for the money he did not care about at all.

Even though she would prepare one scallion noodle that should be very cheap in the market.

Cayne watched Grace to say, “Ok.”

He opened his car door to get off and rarely walked to the front passenger side to open the door for Grace.

“Where do you live?” he asked.

Grace answered, “Go straight please and I will show you the way. Please drive slowly, sir.”

Cayne drove ahead and turned left at a cross. After some time, the car stopped in an old community.

Both of them got off the car. Cayne frowned to ask, “This is your dorm?”

Grace said, “Yes, it is good.” She was greatly satisfied with it to stay safe. On the day of being released from prison, she did not worry about her future and her job, instead, at that moment she was thinking about that where she would live out of prison.

on the floor. Grace opened the door with a new key which was

with some creak and

annoyed at her own voice to speak a lot.

She wore a light color apron which was different from the popular ones

could see the inside kitchen.

orderly manner, she boiled water and noodles, cut spring onions, took noodle out of water and

him the scallion noodle. It topped with some green and fresh spring onions as well as a fried egg.

enjoy it.” she said.

asked, “Where is your noodle?”

head and smiled. She answered while drying her hands, “I finished my meal in my company.” To her, it was a waste of food to have more.

the noodle and said, “It’s yummy.” Soon he raised his head to watch her and continued, “You

I promised I

“And then?”

you are the first one to eat this.”

did not taste it by yourself? I should be the

inching to have the spring onions. I

call me sir. Do you have my name?”

call you Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones or Mr. Johnson.” It was certain that the guests’ names did not matter

the money on the table, “Remember, my name is Cayne.

stunned to watch

him and asked, “Only to remember your name?”

easy to

not catch what he was thinking about. She was confused with what happened now which would be easily seen by Gloria if she

smiled and said, “Sure.” In fact, it was totally

his name…is just

go now.” He was too tall; Grace