Elijah stared at the third bowl of salad Anne made for him and blanched. They were in the kitchen of her apartment. Her building was a much smaller and modest block than Isaiah’s but in a way, Elijah loved it more because it was simple, functional and yet pretty all at the same time. She had soft toys thrown about in corners which softened the edges of the square-shaped apartment. Pink and white dictated the main colors and there was a comforting feel of home. The sweetness of the décor almost caused Elijah to expect the smell of cotton candy to permeate through the walls.

"I can’t eat another bowl."

"But do you remember anything? Like maybe making a salad just like this for yourself… your normal routine?"

"Nope. But I still feel the same at ease feeling with it. Now, though, I’m kinda sick of it. I think I have enough roughage in me to go through ten thousand rolls of toilet paper." Elijah pushed the dish away and cradled his head miserably in his hands which were propped up on the small, beige-shaded wood counter table by his elbows.

"All right… let’s try again. Come with me… come…" Anne gestured for him to follow her out the kitchen into her living room. She sat down on a large furry rug and motioned for him to sit in front of her.

"What are you up to now?" Elijah asked hesitantly. Anne smiled sweetly and reached over to the coffee table next to them to pick up a remote control. After she fiddled with a dial on it, the lights dimmed to a weak orange hue.

"Better?" She asked smilingly.

"Aren’t you afraid? You, me, a guy and a girl all alone in this nice romantic…"

"Elijah, I trust you. Besides, my brother, Mike, will beat the shit out of you if you try anything funny." Anne pulled him down to a sitting position and then tied her long flowing hair into a low ponytail. "My brother was one of the firemen who went to douse the flames eating up your house."

"Was he? I must go thank him for stopping the fire before it hurts anyone…"

"No one was even around for miles except you when the fire raged. I stay in his house in Bayport when I’m working in Bayport Hospital. Nice place… Bayport. Kinda miss it." Anne let out a sigh of faint longing.

Elijah pressed his lips together, baffled. "Isn’t that your job? I mean, nursing…"

"I’m there on a part-time basis. When they need me, they call. I earn my living via another way."

"Full-time volunteering? I think you deserve a medal for that."

Anne chuckled and waved a dismissive hand in his direction. "Let’s not talk about that. My head’s swelling and volunteer work is something I want to do but not for praise or glory. I am a freelance writer churning out rubbish social commentary articles. One day, when I have enough courage, I want to be a journalist…you know, taking my camera and going round the world photographing the real face of war, famine, droughts, drug addiction, prostitution… . I’m actually a poor person. So thank God you are hooked on bland salad. I can’t help you there if you love steaks, lobsters or abalone."

Elijah was filled with amazement by the unassuming girl’s noble ambitions and his heart skipped many beats. Is that what the talk show meant by someone’s heart being stolen away? It probably kept jumping with unbridled passion before it gained enough momentum to rocket out of his chest.

"You’re… you’re a real good person. Good heart." Elijah sincerely commended her. She blushed and slapped his knees.

"Enough of me. Let’s get to know you. Ok… now… relax. Follow me." Anne closed her eyes and placed a palm on each knee. "Breathe steadily. Try to think of the reasons why the darkness would make you feel comfortable… maybe because it’s cooler in the dark… maybe it’s because it doesn’t hurt your eyes…"

Elijah took in a deep breath and tried to do as she said. The pale lighting, the soft classical music which suddenly played in the background relaxed him and he thought he might just fall asleep.

The smiling face of a blond woman with the face of an angel surfaced in his mind with her outstretched. There were tears in her deep blue eyes and he simply wanted to wipe them away.

A child started crying softly in some corner of the darkened space which had a wet, musky smell to it. Elijah felt really bad- almost guilty- that the child kept crying. In fact, now that guilt feeling rose, he had the idea that the woman whom he remembered as his mother was not reaching out for him. She was reaching out for the boy. Elijah had done something wrong to make the boy cry.

The woman seemed to be moving further away from him because he was a naughty boy. He must have bullied the poor boy and made him cry. Was the boy Isaiah?

Guilt choked him and his eyes flew opened. His palm flew to his mouth because he suddenly gagged.

"Elijah…" Anne touched his knee, concerned.

He swallowed down bile. "Oh God… oh God…"

"Elijah…" Anne crawled up to a kneeling position and cradled his head against her chest. "Don’t cry. What did you see?"

"I knew it. I was a horrible person…" He extricated himself and grabbed her upper arms. She smiled to comfort him and her eyes never lost the kindness. She did not move away.

"I like bland stuff. I hate decorations. I am a boring person and I made a boy cry. Maybe it’s Isaiah and he’s treating me so nice now. I think I was this huge bully. My mom… she distanced herself from me. I don’t know why… I just know…. I don’t want to remember anymore… Anne…" He sputtered, feeling extremely helpless and ashamed for breaking down in front of her but she seemed to understand. Burying his face in his hands, his tears wet his palms.

She embraced him then and he felt like he was being embraced by angel’s wings- a priceless luxury that he felt he did not deserve. However, the citrus scent of her perfume, the softness of her body and her whole being soothed him. The comfort she brought was too intoxicating for him to want to let go.

"You can’t be horrible… no… maybe you were a naughty child or something but I don’t think you’re a bully. Isaiah loved you so much…"

"I hate children. I must be evil. Evil people hate children." He pulled his hands away from his face and gazed into her gentle eyes for something that could counter his wretched disgust with himself.

"You don’t hate children. You’re simply scared of them. Maybe people are like that but they changed their minds once they become parents. Do you kick cats?" She asked him in all seriousness.

"No…" Elijah forgot about his terrible feeling for a while, perplexed by her funny question.

Anne broke the hug and tilted his chin up so he was looking into her eyes. "Evil people kick cats, and have no love for anything or anyone. I have many experiences dealing with people and I can safely tell you that you’re very likeable with a glow that comes from inside you. I don’t think you’re evil- yup. You’re not evil..."

Elijah swallowed with some difficulties and although he knew it might not be the best time; there was something he wanted to ask her since the first time he laid eyes on her and it became increasingly urgent with her every word.

"If I’m not evil and am likeable… will you like to go out with me one day but without those scary kids following behind?"

Anne threw her head back and laughed lightly. His heart, first bloated with hope, was crushed- she was mocking him! He should have never asked but now that he did, there was no taking back the words.

Then unexpectedly, she pulled him close to her again. Unsure of what he should do, he encircled her waist with his hands almost shyly.

"I thought you’ll never ask, handsome."

Happiness surged through him, dispelling away the fears and the feeling of unworthiness. He chuckled nervously into her hair, now realizing that her earlier laughter was out of mirth and elation, probably of the same intensity as his and that revelation made his toes danced.

"But we’ll have to make it next week." Elijah pulled away and told her in all seriousness. She raised a questioning brow and cocked her head to one side.

"I need to find a job and get some money first. Can’t have you paying for us on our date right?" Elijah explained.

Anne nodded and grinned mischievously. "All right, so until the date, let’s have a pre-date now and a couple of days later here. We’ll watch DVDs and I’ll make salad. If you’re afraid I’ll take advantage of you, which I won’t because I’m a real good Catholic girl, we’ll leave the lights on."

Elijah pondered for a while before he nodded cheerfully; liking the idea of pre-dates a lot. But he’ll have to convince her to think of doing something else besides watching DVDs.

They ended up playing Scrabbles, which he was surprise he was extremely good at, and munching on carrot sticks. While she dipped hers in mayonnaise, he ate his raw and unadulterated. Despite the blandness, it seemed like they were having a gourmet meal because they were in each other’s company.

All thoughts of a miserable lack of memory, the fear of a malevolence presence hovering over him and the intense guilt stood at the sidelines for a while because laughter, happiness and budding love shoved them out of the way to take centre stage.

Under dimmed lights and with the air pregnant with soft, romantic music, Elijah invited her for a waltz. She danced with so much finesse and though the steps came to him naturally, he thought he was clumsy and awkward next to her. He wished he could dance with her forever and just hold her close until time stops ticking.

Halfway through the late-night waltz- a fairytale fantasy came true against the backdrop of cottony snowflakes drifting by the window- Elijah gawkily initiated a kiss. She giggled and reciprocated in a playful manner. Just as he was lost in the moment, Anne jabbed at his sides, sending shocks of tickles through his system, paralyzing him and causing him to screech in laughter hysterically. However, when he finally regained control of his muscles which were in spasms, he reached for her waist to inflict the same damage on her. She shrilled and pushed him away, dashing for the kitchen in a laughing fit.

"I’ll get you for that!" Elijah ran after her, tears stinging his eyes from laughing too much. He cornered her against the kitchen cabinet and gripped her slim waist threateningly.

"Please… ok, I’ll never do it again…no… NO! Please…" She laughed until she was out of breath when Elijah started tickling her. She tried to pull his stronger hands away and when their fingers touched, Elijah stopped, so did her laughter.