Infinite Solitude

Roger awoke to screams out side his window. Blood curdling window rattling screams the type of screams you usually expect from someone who'd seen a ghost.

He leapt out of bed and ran to the window fumbling with the shutters and flinging them wide. He stared out the window at a lady sprinting away from a man brandishing a knife.
He looked up and down the street watching as windows opened. A man in his mid thirties leapt out of his window and was running towards them trying to intercept the chase.
The lady tripped and fell flat on her face in the snow. The man leapt on top of her and there was an almighty explosion and the mans left shoulder disentergrated into meat and blood, instantly turning the snow a beautiful shade of red.

Roger replaced the 12 gauge under his bed and smiled softly.

He strode down the stairs and out onto the path. He walked to the girl and brushed her off.

"Would you like to come to my apartment to calm down miss?" He said in his deep gentle voice.
"I hope he didn't hurt you."

She nodded slowly and accepted his outstretched hand. She followed him to his apartment and sat down on a blue suede couch. He bustled into the little kitchenette and set about making a hot chocolate for them both.

"Would you like a little bit of port with your hot chocolate?" He asked. "I've got plenty don't you worry."

"Ummm. Well yes, yes just a little bit please." she said in an unusually high voice.

He poured a bit into both cups then thought twice and poured a bit more into his own.

"There you are miss... miss... what is your name? I'm sorry i didn't catch it."
Roger said setting down the cups.

"Oh M-Maryanne my name's Maryanne. I come from London."

Roger nodded and took a gulp of his drink.
He stared around at his lower-middle class home and sighed. He didn't enjoy sleeping here. It was boring. He needed an adventure or a bit of action. He looked up and found Maryanne staring at him.

"Uh are you ok? He said feeling uncomfortable.

"Oh yes, i am perfectly alright, thanks to you that is," She smiled and handed him a rolled up piece of paper. "This is what the fellow outside wanted."

Roger unrolled the paper and scanned through it, the further he got down the further his eyes widened.


Dear Maryanne,
I have the distinct honour to tell you that you have won a trip for two around the world.
Well Done and make sure you have your passport and friend/spouse with you on the 27th of April at your house where a limosine will pick you up.

Your truly,
the staff of travel world inc

Finally he looked up with his mouth hanging open then his mouth broke into a wide grin and he clapped her on the back.
"Good on you. Why are you down here if you live in London. Shouldn't you be up there waiting for the limosine?"

She shook her head and said:
"No, as you can see it says i need a friend/spouse, as i have neither i came looking for you."

Roger's mouth dropped open and he started asking questions flat out.
"B-but how did you know me? And how did you get mixed up with that fellow outside?"

"Oh, i was talking to a neighbor and they said they knew you were down here and incredibly lonely. Like me! So i came to see if you want to come with me on this trip. I know we don't know each other all that well but... just have a think about it anyway. You have less than a month to pack so get to it, that's... if you want to come..."
She finished with a smile and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.

Roger's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water until finally, he said:
"umm... sure, uh, why me though?"

"Two reasons, first you just saved my life, and second your nice!"