The wind was a constant reminder of what she had forgotten. Her jacket. She remembered exactly where she had dropped it. A hollow laugh escaped from her lips as she remembered her own innocent excitement only few hours earlier. How long had she waited to get off work and to go to him? Just to be with him.She had used the key he hadn't even remembered giving her. She had walked in to his apartment, completely clueless of what was really going on. She had dropped her jacket and her purse on the armchair and she kicked of her shoes. She had danced in silence to the music the happy tune playing in her head. And slowly she had made her way to the bedroom door.It was the unmistakable sound of a woman's sigh which had alerted her. No, it had to have been a mistake, a figment of her imagination. But why would she imagine another woman in her boyfriends apartment, in his bedroom. Hoping for the best and expecting the absolute worse, she had pushed the door open and found her boyfriend experimenting some new poses from Kama Sutra with another woman. She hadn't heard him calling out her name. She had rushed towards the door, just barely remembering to pick up her shoes on her way out. She had run with bare feet, until it had started to hurt. Only then had she stopped to put on her shoes again.Now she was here. Alone and walking towards the unknown with dried tears on her face. The road was blissfully empty. No one was there to see her pain. She fought back another sob and took another step only to kneel as the pain forced her down.And then the car was there. She hadn't even heard it. Was she going deaf? The door opened and a hand reached out to her. She didn't take it, but she did got back on her feet and into car."Just drive." She whispered before closing her eyes and forcing herself watch the horror film once more. It would the last time she would see his treacherous face. After this time, she would force herself to forget. After this time... The void engulfed her.When she woke it was silent. The car had stopped and all she could see were the colourful leaves coming down from the trees. Just like rain. She forced her sore eyes to stay open as she opened the car window. The fresh air cleared the haze from her head and awoke her hunger. "Here, I thought you might be hungry." A burger appeared from nowhere just under her nose. Like a ravenous wild animal attacks her prey, she devoured the burger before even thinking of niceties of life."Thanks", she said as she licked the mayonnaise from her fingers."You are welcome", his low voice was filled with laugher."Don't you dare to say it's a good thing to see a woman with a healthy appetite.""I wouldn't dream of it.""But you are thinking about it", she said to the man leaning to the car and sipping his morning coffee. This was the first time she really looked at him. And so far, she liked what she saw. Unfortunately with her, that was never a good sign."What if I am?" he asked."Better that, than asking me why I was walking down that road before you picked me up.""None of my business", he just said and looked at her from under his brow."Agreed."Silence ensued once again. It gave her time to think, to try to formulate a plan. She didn't do anything without a plan. Walking out of that apartment had been the first impulsive deed she had done. Getting in this car had been the second."Do you have a destination or are you here just for the ride?" He asked as he got back into the drivers seat. For a second she feared he might be able to read her mind. Another second later she was shaking her head."I don't care. I just want to get away.""That can be arranged."The humming of the engine lulled them back into the silence. He turned the car towards the unknown and drove. She watched as the road moved under them and nothing changed. She still felt just as trapped as she had felt the previous night."I can't breath.""Hang on", he just said and laid the pedal to the metal. Few hour-length minutes later they reached the abandoned quarry which had been filled with rain water. As the car came to a halt, he was out of it and opening the door for her. He escorted her to the edge of the rocky wall and returned to the car. She couldn't hear the calming humming of the engine any longer and an instant later he was there again, by her side. Except he wasn't. He was stripping and just as his boxers hit the ground he took of running and flew over the edge. She could hear him meeting the ice cold water and starting to swim. A lunatic. He was certifiable and she got in a car with him."Aren't you coming?" She heard him calling out for her. She refused to answer him. It would be only fitting if she would take off with his car while he was dousing his perfect figure with clear, icy water. But she couldn't do that. Somehow, he had taken the keys with him. She was stuck. With a nut. "Come on, it's fun", he cajoled.No. She shook her head. She wouldn't. It was absolutely out of the question. She wouldn't be caught skinny-dipping with a stranger regardless how handsome the stranger was. And they could introduce themselves thus removing the obstacle of unfamiliarity. But where was the fun in that.The water is too cold. She would freeze to death. Then how come he was still kicking and gracefully disturbing the water. No.Yes.Maybe?Definitely.It only took her ten seconds to peel off her clothes and follow him to the emptiness. The water was like knives cutting her as she broke the surface and dived. The longer she stayed under the water, the easier it became to stand the cold. Only her lungs rebelled. They burned. She needed air. Reluctantly she kicked and kicked and fought her way back up to the surface. As her face came in contact with the cold breeze she realised she was freezing. Hurriedly she swam to shore and found a path to climb back up. Unsurprisingly, he was there waiting for her. "Do you want me to look away?" He asked without making any effort to do so."I think it's a bit too late for that", she replied appraising his assets before calmly and orderly redressing herself. He threw some clothes on himself and raked his fingers through his wet hair as he watched her move into her clothes. She chose to avoid looking at him.He chuckled. "Are you hungry again?"She nodded. "How did you know?""I've done this before. There's a decent diner few minutes away. We could walk there.""Walk?""Follow if you dare", he laughed again and started towards the woods. She watched him as he walked away. She really didn't feel like scampering through any kind growth but her stomach chose that moment to remind her of it's needs. The refreshing dip had left her famished. Again. She chose to follow him.Her heels slowed her down and once she finally caught him, he had ordered for both of them."If you don't like it, order something else and I'll eat it later." He offered the menu to her but she shook her head. She suddenly remembered the absence of her purse. A laugh bubbled within her as she evaluated her situation. From one man to another. From a cheater to a lunatic. She had chosen well. She would eat what ever he offered but she couldn't hold her tongue any longer."How do you know so much about this place?""I've been here before." He didn't offer any additional information but she got the feeling that it was place he regularly visited. "Should I know you?" She really didn't know why asked that question."I don't know. Should you?" He leaned back in his seat and searched for something with his eyes. She could almost feel him peruse her features. "I don't know you", he finally said."Good", was the only answer she could muster.Once their dinner arrived, they ate in silence. He paid for the wood and they walked back to the car in silence. He said nothing when she tripped and caught her. And she said nothing when picked her up and carried her over an especially difficult patch on their path."Where now?" He asked as they reached the car, both walking again."You're the driver", she simply said."But I'm not the one running away.""Aren't you?""I face my demons." "By drowning them in icy cold water?" She enquired."For example.""How did you get to be so strong?" She was honestly curious."You don't want to know", he said sounding a bit cautious."Try me.""I had to learn to take care of myself when my mother died.""When did she die?" "When I was very young." His tone discouraged her to continue with the questions."I guess, I have to go back", she said, "my purse, my jacket, my whole life is there.""Don't. Don't go back for things." "Then what do you suggest?""Find something worth living for."What a novel idea? Wasn't a steady job and a cheating boyfriend enough reason to live? Maybe they had been, but they weren't any more. She needed more, but she didn't have a clue where to star looking."I have an idea. Get into the car", he said and jumped into the car. He reached under her seat for the keys and started the car. "This may take a while." He warned her and they were on the road again. It was starting to get dark as he pulled the car to a vantage point. He motioned for her to get out of the car. They walked in front of it and looked down to the glowing city beneath them. She took in the view and breathed in the cold night air. "It's small isn't it. Tiny." His voice was even as he waited for her to internalise her words. "It's all about the vantage. Whatever drove you away must seem insignificant from here."She nodded.And suddenly it dawned on her. He had lied."Who is there? Who is waiting for you?" He looked startled. "My father.""And how does he look from here?""He'll never be insignificant, but I must admit. Looking from here, he seems a lot easier to deal with."She grinned. "Shall we go back then? Face our problems and find something worth living for?""Damn, I must choose my words more carefully next time." He smirked. "Do you want a ride or do you want to walk?""I think I'll walk", she tilted her head, "It gives me a new perspective.""The pain and all.""What pain?" She simply asked."Will I see you again?" He suddenly looked forlorn."I don't know. Perhaps. I can't know for sure.""In that case", he took a step closer and brushed gently her cheek. He leaned down and softly touched her lips, just enough for it to qualify as a touch. She lost her patience long before he did and pulled her down to a passionate exploration. Once they had no more secrets to share, their lips parted mirroring equal delight. "This is goodbye?""This is goodbye."He nodded and walked back to his car. She listened to the calming humming of the engine and waved goodbye as he drove away. He left her life just as he had entered it. It didn't last nearly long enough, but it was enough to give her a wistful memory which would last a lifetime. It was more than she got each day she had lived until then. But it would be different from now on. She wouldn't be skinny-dipping in ice cold water any time soon, but she would find something better, something worth living for. The stars would remember her promise.