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.

new key which was just copied by the administrative staff for a new lock to the dorm.

pushed the old door open with some

was too annoyed at her own voice to speak a lot.

the kitchen. She wore a light color apron which was different from the popular ones among the young, pinky or green ones of country lifestyle. It looked the same ugly as the old-time

he could see the inside kitchen.

noodles, cut spring onions, took noodle out of water and adding oil and onions to make scallion. Looking at all these, Cayne had an impulse

It topped with some green and fresh spring onions as well as a fried egg.

enjoy it.” she

asked, “Where is your noodle?”

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

yummy.” Soon he raised his head to

was one friend who loved scallion noodle so great. I promised I would learn to do it for

“And then?”

first one

not taste it by yourself? I should be

the spring onions. I might

me sir. Do you have my

not important to me. Even if I have it, I will only call you Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones or Mr. Johnson.” It was certain

he took some money out of his wallet and said, “For you.” Then he left the money on the

to

looked up to him and asked, “Only to remember

to earn

what he was thinking about. She was confused with what happened now which

fact, it was totally impossible…she was all he was chasing right

his name…is just the first

too late. I have to go now.” He was too tall; Grace