What was about to happen was unfolding from where he stood, yet he made no move to stop it. He closed his eyes for what could have only been a second, willing himself to not go through it again. Still, the desire was too strong. He cursed himself, knowing that he didn’t have a choice. The girl was paying more attention to the phone in her hand then to oncoming traffic. He forced his feet faster, mumbling a few apologies as he pushed his way through the crowded sidewalk. He headed towards the intersection where she stood, waiting for the light to change.
A few people shouted, unhappy that he had practically shoved them out of his way. He was still a few yards away when she stepped into the path of a car that was obviously as distracted as she was. It barreled down the street, making no effort to stop for the flashing red light. He ignored the reaction of the crowd as he slammed into her, forcing them both back onto the sidewalk.

Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds. She stared at him, looking as though she wanted to say something, but decided against it. Reluctantly, he lifted himself off of her, and offered his hand. She brushed a strand of dark brown hair out of her face and ignored it.

“What’s wrong with you?” She asked. “You could have been killed.”

For once, he didn’t know what to say. She pulled herself away from the sidewalk, and wiped her hands off on her jeans.

“What’s your name?” He asked. He wasn’t sure where the question had come from. It was completely out of character for him to want to know anything about the people he had saved.

“Kate,” she choked out. “I need to leave. I have to be somewhere.”

She left before he could tell her his name. He lit a cigarette as he made his way from the crowd before anyone had a chance to question him. He followed her down a few streets, making sure to keep his distance. She turned into a small, worn café, tucked away from the main road. She clearly wasn’t dressed for work, maybe she was meeting someone. He walked by the café long enough to look through the heavily-curtained windows. She sat alone at a two-person table against a stone wall, already sipping a steaming cup of coffee. Before he had a chance to change his mind, he walked into the café. A small bell above the door announced his arrival. She didn’t even look up.

“I thought you were going to be late,” he said.

She didn’t seem surprised that he had shown up at her table. Instead, she looked at him over the rim of her coffee cup, and managed a smile.

“I’m waiting for someone,” she said. “I’d like you to meet him, but we have some time before he gets here.”

She held his eyes before gesturing for him to sit down. To join her. To tell her everything. He decided to start at the beginning.

“I never got the chance to tell you my name,” he said.