the answer is no

The loud knocks woke her instantly. salem slowly climbed off her bed desperate not to make a sound. tiptoeing across her apartment she looked through the peephole on her front door. outside stood Andrew. he was still in his Armani business suit and was holding a bouquet of flowers. he must have got those himself after work salem thought.

a smile spread across her face until she realized it and then she ruthlessly slapped herself.

'so what if he did!? he should be giving those to his wife!'

hearing a noise behind the door andrew stepped closer. "salem please let me in" his tired voice pleaded. salem knew it was 4 am and earlier the news said it would snow tonight. he must be exhausted and cold but she had to stay firm.

sitting down her flowers beside him andrew sat down leaning his back against her door. after lighting the cigarette dangling between his lips andrew gave a smoky sigh. he could still remember the first time he met salem. it was on a cold night much like this one.

7 years ago he was young drunk and full of life at the age of 21. walking home from a bar he had taken a shortcut through some back alleys when he saw blood staining some snow piled high. on closer inspection he realized it was a young woman hidden beneath the icy blanket. her skin was as white as the snow falling, her lips were lush but turning blue and her eyes were the most captivating of all. green orbs framed by black lashes that fluttered like butterfly wings.

he didn't know how long it took for him to stop staring at the beauty but he picked her up as carefully as he could and carried her all the way to the hospital.

salem had been mugged and stabbed left to bleed out in the dark alley all alone. she wasnt aware that the man who saved her was one of the richest bachelors in Janine yet she treated him like a God. maybe it was out of that appreciation that she put up with him so much. andrew knew himself to be an arrogant man.

In all honesty he hated himself and probably the whole rotten world. Except for her. so when she left him that night, it was like he was left in a dark room without his shining light.

he came to hate her too but not as much as he would like to believe.

for what felt like hours andrew reminisced about the past and slowly fell asleep. when he stirred back awake from the dawning sun the flowers were gone, a familar looking blanket covered his body and note was tucked halfway under the doormat.

it only said 4 words "the answer is no" but those 4 words were enough.