Ice and Fire

Early next morning, Jackson received a call from the army base, and was told that there was something that needed to be urgently handled by him.

He didn't have the heart to wake Cheery up when he saw that she was still sleeping after he spoke on the phone.

When Jackson felt Cherry move, he carefully asked, "Are you awake?" and when she opened her eyes and looked at him, he focused his gaze on her.

"Yes, when did you wake up?" asked Cherry.

Jackson gently stroke Cherry's hair, and said, "Just earlier."

Cherry read Jackson's face, and figured that there must be something on Jackson's mind, and asked, "Do you have anything to tell me?"

Jackson paused for a moment, and then said, "I have to go back to the barracks soon."

"Oh, " replied Cherry, "Then you have to start packing. You don't want to be late."

Cherry knew that military orders could never be violated, and it seemed that Jackson had already wasted quite some time waiting for her to be awake.

After they got up out of bed and washed, Jackson put on his army uniform. After she checked his clothing and made sure that it was okay, Cherry whispered to him, "You go on ahead, I'll be right here waiting for you when you get back."

"I don't know for how many days I'll be gone; I don't want to leave you, " said Jackson.

comes first. Don't worry, I take good care of myself

he left, he kissed her forehead,

felt slightly wistful?and sad, because she was yet again condemned to

out the balcony, and after dusk fell, she just stared blankly at the ceiling for most of the night. She was thinking about Emily, and about the

as usual, and after she washed, she stood on the balcony to breathe the fresh

to get pale. She patted herself on the chest, but nausea struck her just before her hands reached her chest. With her

not until half an hour passed

that way because she hadn't eaten a square meal in days. She didn't have any kind of appetite, and could

walked out of the toilet, Cherry sank herself in the sofa and drank a cup of water, something that made her feel much more better. She then switched on the television to watch news, and the whole morning passed quickly in leisure.

and she saw all of the clothes that belonged to her. Cherry also saw the purple dress, and felt painful, because she had bought it with Emily when they went

into them, put on some light make-up, picked up her bag, and

in front of the door, and felt a quick pain stab her heart. In the past, Cherry had come there only for Emily. She had always believed that wherever Emily was, there surely must be a place full of joy, and that included the bar. Although it was noisy and chaotic, she still loved coming

as she walked

wearing the same work clothes as Emily had. She was mixing drinks for customers with a smile on her

eyes turned red

sudden, a drunk man walked by Cherry and accidentally collided with her, but Cherry quickly

instead just went ahead after colliding

she found an empty table in the corner, Cherry walked over to it, and sat down.