Her twinkling laughter like wind chimes sang in his ears as he drew her close. To be in love was to experience magic- Elijah felt intoxicated, heady confused and at the same time, never more certain about himself. Anne made him feel normal; made him believe that it was all right to be himself- that he could be as ordinary as a blade of grass and still she would care for him, watering him with her gentle love.

And at the same time, she made him nervous, made him fumble over his lines sometimes. His hands would become clammy with thoughts of her and he thought she must be an angel who descended to help this awkward ghost along.

She was so pretty on this Valentines Day- sweet, unassuming and lovely in her pale blue spaghetti dress covered up by a white faux cashmere coat so she would not freeze to death. Elijah was in his usual black trench coat get up- he had absolutely no fashion sense and since he found a look he was comfortable with, he just stuck to it.

In the most egoistical sense, he thought she was made more ravishing with the one accessory he had given her- a bouquet made up of thirty deep red roses- his first gift of flowers to her.

Using the freezing weather as an excuse, Elijah stuck himself like superglue onto her as they walked down the street to the pub he passed by many times on his way back to the apartment from the Italian restaurant in which he had the most boring job as a waiter. However, tales of how his lady boss kept trying to hit on him provided much laughter for the enraptured young couple. Strangely, whenever his lady boss propositioned him, Elijah would be tongue-tied, not out of embarrassment or even a sense of disgust at such unspoken deals but out of a feeling of deja vu.

He stopped her in mid-stride and leaned over to kiss her neck from where he was, just a breath behind her.

"If we make more stops like this, we won’t get there before daylight…" Anne playfully cringed away from him. Elijah chuckled as he held her hand, pointing straight ahead of him.

"It’s just one more block away… besides, these stops makes walking more fun and bearable in this frigid temperature."

"You’re so FON."

"FON?"

"Full of nonsense." She explained and then giggled, squeezing his gloved hand tightly. In blissful silence, they made it to the pub finally and a waitress settled them in a cozy corner. The pub was laid back and its flavor was jazz- a genre that Anne loved very much. If Anne did not have so much passion for it, Elijah would not even care an ounce for the world’s most boring music to him. With dimmed tangerine lights, plush red couches and low, dark brown coffee tables with a tea light placed in the centre of each of them, Sunset Bar was a romantic place to enjoy a drink or two and just chill out to the subtly seductive music.

"Like it here?" Elijah whispered in her ear, stroking her hand at the same time. He loved the feel of her tender skin which was smooth, soft and warm. She had once teased him about being overtly affectionate; however, he had no idea how to keep himself from being demonstrative of his love for her.

"It’s my favorite place, actually. I had a feeling you’re going to bring me here but I don’t want to ruin the surprise…" Anne snuggled against him and then flicked her thumb over his nose when she noticed his crestfallen mien.

"Oh… well… hmm… after all you grew up here." Elijah’s lips stretched tautly. It was a few seconds later, under Anne’s consoling caresses of his cheeks that he finally could muster up a weak smile.

"That’s it. Don’t be silly. I’m drowning in ecstasy that you’re opening up your heart to Jazz for me." Anne planted a quick kiss on his lips. He had to turn away for a moment because a most goofy grin was plastered on his face.

Two glasses of Baileys and a mug of German lager later, Elijah called the waiter over and stated his request when Anne was in the ladies, freshening up. The waiter nodded and went up to the band which was jamming that night. The leader smiled after hearing what the waiter had got to say and then waved Elijah over to the stage. Elijah quickly glanced in the direction of the ladies and saw Anne making her way out. He pointed at himself first then at the stage to indicate that he was going over there. She gazed at him with an arched curious brow from where she was.

Since he remembered how to play musical instrument that he had learned before, he had been practicing for this night. It was a little tough as he tolerated Jazz only because she loved it, not because he had any preference for it. At best, he was neutral towards it- seeing it as another variety of musical arrangement. But he was doing it for her, to make her happy and the drive instilled passion in him to create magic in whatever he was about to do.

Elijah walked up to the stage under the many pairs of watchful eyes. The pianist made way for him and he thanked her softly, blushing as he did- growing more and more self-conscious- berating himself for what seemed like a bad idea already because of his nervousness. He scanned the crowd for her and saw that she had already returned to their seat. She still had the questioning look in her pretty face and he chuckled softly to himself. Sitting down on the stool, he hunched over to the microphone and announced his intentions.

"For my Valentine and the love of my life, Anne Lear. Pardon me for croaking- it’ll be apparent soon as to why I don’t do this for a living. If I break glasses, charge it to her." The crowd laughed good-naturedly, breaking the ice between them and him. Never a performer, Elijah thought he was about keel over in fear but the slight rapport he built with the audience calmed him down considerably.

The band started first before Elijah and when he played the first note, everything else flowed easily. He closed his eyes and felt the heat of the spotlight on his forehead, forming beads of sweat. The pub faded away- the soft murmurs of the listeners drifted into nothingness. He imagined she was just right in front him and the world only existed for the both them- for that moment.

The dread that churned his guts broke the spell.

He held her closer so her warm could dissolve away the demented trepidation trouncing his heart away with a sledgehammer.

***

"Each day is Valentine’s…" Elijah crooned huskily with a slight tremor at some notes. Anne commented that he just seemed so vulnerable, naked and gorgeous on stage that she simply had to rush to his side to make sure everyone knew he was hers and no one would dare touch him.

Elijah was shamefacedly amused by her teasing- she was wrong, he could fend off anyone but her. She made him feel so helpless sometimes.

"Each day is Valentine’s Day…" She serenaded back to him as she pulled his collar with both her hands and drew him closer. Caressing his cheeks, she gazed distractedly into his eyes for a moment before kissing him fiercely on the lips. Elijah was taken aback by her aggressiveness which was so unlike her and thus, was too shell-shocked to return the sudden gesture of passion.

"What’s the matter?" Anne pulled away from the one-sided kiss and asked him with worried eyes. Elijah stared blankly at her before he blinked and shook his head.

"Nothing… I… hmm…"

"It’s ok. I know… you’re not ready… actually, neither am I. But I had a really great time." Anne muttered sultrily and curled a few strands of his straight blond hair with her little finger. He coughed, willing the unfathomable and definitely distasteful images away from his mind.

"I’m glad you did… I aim to please…" Elijah grabbed her playful hand and leaned over, nuzzling his nose against her pale, tender neck.

Anne giggled. She seemed so precious and adorable then that he just had to embrace her tightly and wished time would stop so she could be at his side forever. She chased away all his insecurities about not having coherent memories and it felt just too right to be with her. She let him hold her until his heart’s content but when it seemed like he had no intention of letting go, ever, she extricated herself and pressed a palm upon his chest.

"Goodnight, darling…" She whispered huskily, her voice thick with emotions and pangs of having to be separated away from him, even if it was only for a while.

Elijah was crestfallen but he knew she would never, for reasons of faith and principles, invite him in to spend the night with her, not that he was dying to either. However, right then, he only wanted her around him. He had the most ominous feeling that there were monsters looming over him but she, his angel, would stave them off with her radiant goodness.

"I’ll see you tomorrow then… if I don’t die of missing you…" Elijah bade her farewell miserably but he held on to her hand even tighter. Anne placed a slender index finger on his lips and silenced him before he could hail more curses on himself.

"Don’t ever say you’ll die…" She gazed at him with haunted eyes. There was a slight flicker in those light blue gems before she abruptly turned around and fumbled in her handbag for the keys to her apartment.

"Anne? What’s wrong? Anne… don’t cry… did I do something mean or nasty? I’m sorry if I did… I…" Elijah’s hands encircled her waist as he leaned over her shoulder just in time to see tears falling down her cheeks for no reason. Anne then brought her hands up to cover her eyes.

"No… it’s me… Elijah… it’s me…"

"Anne?" Elijah’s heart pounded so hard against his chest that it seemed like it was going to burst out of his body. He spun her around and tilted her chin up so she could see the love in his eyes which was for her alone. "Don’t cry for nothing, Anne… you’ve done nothing wrong…"

"I did… Elijah… I… I wasn’t honest with you at all and you’ve nothing but extreme trust in me... " Anne spoke in between hiccups. Perplexity wrought his emotions then. Elijah dabbed at her tears- an action to comfort her and to calm himself down with something to do.

"Anne… you’re scaring me…" Elijah held her close and she cried into his chest. His heart pounded manically- almost like it was about to rapture again but for another reason besides love. Though she was plastered against him, he was frightened that she was about to slip out of his grip.

"Anne, don’t scare me… I hate being scared…"

Anne’s sobs quieted then and she disengaged herself from him. "In due time, I’ll tell you everything… for now… can you just trust me when I say I do love you and want the best for you?"

Elijah was troubled for her disturbing behavior had opened up a Pandora’s box. However, she was so distraught that he couldn’t bear to cause her more duress. Besides, she really did love him and he should trust her.

"Anne…" He breathed in deeply, willing for courage. "If you’ve found someone else or think I’m not the best for you… I…"

"Silly boy." She kissed his cheek and smiled sadly at him. "I love you. Forget what I’ve said… I was… I was just having PMS."

"You’re always having PMS." Elijah shakily joked- her explanation made no sense. PMS only came once a month and she had one major PMS a week ago.

"Yes… that’s me… perpetually incomprehensible." She pinched his nose and then turned around to unlock her door. She stepped into her apartment and, after a moment’s hesitation, did an about turn and looked him in the eyes with knitted brows.

"Do you love me, Lijah?"

Heaving a sigh of relief, Elijah composed himself, closing his eyes for a second. When he opened his eyes a while later, it was with resolution, determination and a whole lot of courage.

"Yes, Anne. I really love you. With all my heart, all my soul and whatever mind I have left."

He thought his heartfelt declaration would make her smile, maybe even laugh heartily. Whatever he was expecting, he sure wasn’t prepared for the floodgates of tears that burst forth from those pretty eyes that he would never want to see crying.

***

Elijah returned back to his brother’s apartment. He had stayed until three in the morning with Anne- just sitting next to her with an arm across her shoulders as she laid her head on his shoulders. They had left her apartment for a while after that tensed conversation to seek some peace and quiet in a lovely, small park just behind her block.

Anne had fallen asleep and thus he carried her all the up her apartment and settled her down on her bed. She was a sound sleeper- either that or the bout of tears had left her thoroughly exhausted. Never a man to take advantage of the situation, or at least he thought he never was, he simply gazed smilingly at her face and with his mind’s eyes, watched little children- blond and brown-haired- running wild in a garden.

He left but not before kissing her lightly on the lips. She stirred but did not wake.

As he opened the door to his room, some gut instinct caused him to turn around. It was total darkness in the apartment save the moonlight and the skylights of the city that beamed in through the window. Straining his eyes, he saw the outline of Lynn lying down on her side with her upper body cushioned on the red bean bag.

The phone was loosely gripped in her hands.

Elijah shook his head, making a mental note to offer Isaiah the tips he got from the talk-show guru of relationships.