[Will, with his typical luck, manages to get scalding coffee spilled all over his chest. Hissing softly, he jumps back, eyes wide. It takes his a moment to really register her, then he's all concern.]
[At the kindness of his words after visiting her sisters grave Haley cannot help but bite her lip to stop the tears that threatened to fall, she had spent all morning wanting to feel any other emotion but emptiness.]
I am so so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going, in a world of my own, I just wanted to grab a coffee and now look what I've done... [She hadn't meant to ramble but once she started she found she was unable to stop.]
[He can tell he's upset and, as is his way, can tell it has nothing to do with the coffee. Ignoring the stain on his chest, and the pain accompanying it, he gently takes her arm and steers her to a corner table, his manner comforting and compassionate.]
It's all right. No harm done. Let's get you some new coffee, or maybe tea would be more relaxing, and you can take a minute, settle down...
[Wiping at her eyes with her second finger Haley allows herself to be steered to the table closest to them, continuing to ramble about how sorry she is for scolding him and making a mess of his shirt. He tries his best to calm her as he offers to buy her a replacement coffee. Looking up at him she is able to read his facial expression.] Why are you being so nice?
[Pulling her sleeves over her hands Haley watches as he goes to the counter to order them a mug of tea each. Before placing her hand underneath her chin waiting for him, when he arrives Haley thanks him.]
My sister.. She passed away two years ago today. [Placing her jumper covered hands around the mug Haley pulls it closer to her. Not quite ready to meet his eyes she blows gently at the contents of her mug.]
I'm sorry. Losing someone you love is always difficult, especially around the anniversaries. I can't tell you that it gets easier, but the wounds become less raw with time, I promise...
Me too... She meant everything to me, I thought I knew how much when she was alive but now that she's no longer here it puts those feelings into perspective. [Haley finally finds the courage to look up at him.]
[He smiles gently at her, eyes full of compassion and understanding. He's lost loved ones himself, knows the feeling well, so can empathize deeply with her own pain.]
We think we love them enough. Then they're done and we realize how much more we could have said and done, all the little ways we could have shown it. I like to think, if they can still see us and know what we're doing, that they just want us to be happy, to focus on the good memories instead of on the moment that changed the world forever. They loved us. They would want us to be happy. Easier said than done, I know, but something to strive for.
[Taking a sip from her mug, thanking him again for the drink (its not every day that you get someone do something kind). She reaches across to put her hand over his, giving it a quick squeeze.]
The good memories of Jessica are what keep me going each day.
I feel the same way about the people I've lost. Small things are painful, then you remember the good times and it hurts less. It's such a relief once you move to the point where you can do that.
If she could see me now I know exactly what she'd be thinking. [Haley fumbles in her pockets to get out her purse, showing him a picture of Jessica and herself that was taken a few nights before she had been killed.]
[Will smiles as he studies the picture.] I can see the family resemblance. And it's obvious how close you were. That kind of relationship is something special.
[At his comment of how similar they look tears threaten to spill, happy ones of course. Ever since she had been a little girl people had commented on how much of a resemblance there had been between them.]
We were, we did everything together. She even followed me to college to Stanford.
[Haley nods at that as she takes a sip of her tea once, putting away her picture with her other hand. Looking at him she realises that they are yet to tell each other their names. Outstretching her hand.] I'm Haley by the way. And you are?
Will. Zimmerman. [He accepts her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze and shake. He's a strong man, but never lets that show in his handshakes.] It's good to meet you, Haley, although obviously I wish the circumstances might have been better...
It's a family name. William Jack Zimmerman. William after my father, Jack after my grandfather. Honestly, I spent a lot of my life wishing I'd just been named after my grandfather. He was the strong one...
[He's not usually one to talk about himself much to strangers, but honesty is disarming, too, and therefore helpful. It makes conversations easier, makes others feel less self-conscious and open themselves. It helps people get things off of their chest that they need to unburden themselves from, but that they might otherwise be reluctant to share.]
[Haley can tell that the conversation about his father is one he would rather not be having therefore reaches over to take a hold of his hand. She hopes that he doesn't mind.]
[He lets her take his hand, smiling faintly. She'd make a good psychologist, he thinks. Her friends must love talking to her.]
He was a paratrooper, died at Normandy. Helped secure a beachhead so the invasion could go through. In a very real way, you could say he helped save the world from the Forces of Evil...
[Considering that his father's greatest achievement was gaining early parole a few years back, it's no wonder Will looks up to his grandfather more.]
[Sometimes she can be too kind for her own good, she hopes that this isn't one of those situations. It had been a really long time since she'd felt a connection like this one even after such a short period of knowing each other. Haley sits listening intently to him, her eyes lighting up at the history of it all, the major she had been completing at Stanford.]
The things that they went through I don't think any of us will ever be able to understand or comprehend how horrible it must have been for each and every one of them. Your grandfather, you were close to him?
[Will smiles at the look on her face when he starts talking about the War. History majors are always full of questions. People feel he's easy to get to know. He does his best not to abuse that easy trust.]
Never met him. Been to France a few times, visited his grave. Made me feel like connected to him.
Grew up hearing stories about him. It wasn't an easy time to have a German last name. He didn't wait to be drafted, either. He enlisted as soon as it became clear we'd be sending soldiers over to help. Said he never could stand a bully. I always liked that about him. It was something we had in common...
After Jessica was murdered I didn't particularly have an easy time either, they insisted that I must have had something to do with her as I had been the last person to see her that night... Not that my situation is anything like yours, Will.
It's not fair to anyone to go around comparing one person's set of suffering to another's. We all have our stories, and they're all painful and tragic in their way. But I know what useless police are like. After my mother was murdered, I had a hell of a time trying to convince them of what I saw. They decided I was a scared kid who had hallucinated the whole thing...
Nsh. What most people think of as wisdom is really just experience. If you've been in a situation, you have some insight into how to cope with similar situations, that's all. But we're all groping our ways blindly forward most of the time, unless we're lucky enough to have the right experience under our belts, or know someone who does...
Maybe your right, one thing I'm sure of though is that I have really enjoyed chatting with you. Today started as a bad day having to see Jessica's grave all over again but you today have helped, you really have.
[Drinking the last of her coffee Haley picks up her bag, rummaging through it until she gets to the small pad of paper and the pen that is always kept in her bag before filling out her name and details.] You must allow me to wash the clothes I ruined and you could come collect them or I could have them sent over to you?
[Standing from where she had been sat Haley made her way across the short distance to her new found friend before pressing a kiss to his cheek.] I will be sure to do that.
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Are you okay? You didn't get burnt, did you?
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I am so so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going, in a world of my own, I just wanted to grab a coffee and now look what I've done... [She hadn't meant to ramble but once she started she found she was unable to stop.]
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It's all right. No harm done. Let's get you some new coffee, or maybe tea would be more relaxing, and you can take a minute, settle down...
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The world needs more nice people. Now, what are you drinking? I'll bring you another one.
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A tea would be nice, please.
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[He smiles and squeezes her shoulder, then goes to get two teas.]
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[He sets a cup down in front of her and settles down opposite her, watching her thoughtfully.]
Doing a little better, I hope?
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We think we love them enough. Then they're done and we realize how much more we could have said and done, all the little ways we could have shown it. I like to think, if they can still see us and know what we're doing, that they just want us to be happy, to focus on the good memories instead of on the moment that changed the world forever. They loved us. They would want us to be happy. Easier said than done, I know, but something to strive for.
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The good memories of Jessica are what keep me going each day.
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We were, we did everything together. She even followed me to college to Stanford.
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[He's not usually one to talk about himself much to strangers, but honesty is disarming, too, and therefore helpful. It makes conversations easier, makes others feel less self-conscious and open themselves. It helps people get things off of their chest that they need to unburden themselves from, but that they might otherwise be reluctant to share.]
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Tell me more about your grandfather...
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He was a paratrooper, died at Normandy. Helped secure a beachhead so the invasion could go through. In a very real way, you could say he helped save the world from the Forces of Evil...
[Considering that his father's greatest achievement was gaining early parole a few years back, it's no wonder Will looks up to his grandfather more.]
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The things that they went through I don't think any of us will ever be able to understand or comprehend how horrible it must have been for each and every one of them. Your grandfather, you were close to him?
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Never met him. Been to France a few times, visited his grave. Made me feel like connected to him.
Grew up hearing stories about him. It wasn't an easy time to have a German last name. He didn't wait to be drafted, either. He enlisted as soon as it became clear we'd be sending soldiers over to help. Said he never could stand a bully. I always liked that about him. It was something we had in common...
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After Jessica was murdered I didn't particularly have an easy time either, they insisted that I must have had something to do with her as I had been the last person to see her that night... Not that my situation is anything like yours, Will.
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It's not fair to anyone to go around comparing one person's set of suffering to another's. We all have our stories, and they're all painful and tragic in their way. But I know what useless police are like. After my mother was murdered, I had a hell of a time trying to convince them of what I saw. They decided I was a scared kid who had hallucinated the whole thing...
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You have a wise head on your shoulders, Will.
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[He's obviously teasing. He can be incredibly goofy and inappropriate when he chooses to.]
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Aren't you just a delight... I insist, they wouldn't have gotten dirty in the first place if I had watched where I was going.
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It's just a little coffee stain...
[Well, little being relative, but he's had much bigger stains on his shirt, and in his own blood.]
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[Taking her bag she puts it across her shoulder, getting ready to get up to head off home in a short while.]
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[He pulls out his phone and quickly enters her details, sending her a text once he has.]
There, now you can get in touch with me, too. If you ever need to talk or anything...
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I can't always answer right away, but I always answer my voicemail. If you ever need anything, I'll be around.
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[She turns around as she gets to the door giving him a slight wave in goodbye as she leaves the cafe.]
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