Troy

Troy was waiting for her downstairs, leaned against a newspaper booth. The big titles that day were more exaggerated than usual by the even more bigger meaning behind them.

"September 11th 2004, three years since hell".

And also:

"New York and all America commemorate for the third year the loss of the most empowering monument of the city and the even more missed fellow countrymen".

Lily appeared as a shadow behind the glass front door of the pre-war building, Troy stood straight and smiled at her feeling a slight cramp in the stomach.

-"Hey you made it on time!" said Lily greeting him with a kiss on the chick which made Troy turn pink. He seemed to feel the warmth coming up to his head which he turned down saying hi softly.

-"Where'd you wanna go miss L? Coffee place?" asked jolly Troy, he sensed he had to be the man of the situation and let the girl choose. 

They were already walking in the direction of the subway station to Manhattan -"Let's go to a park, aren't you tired of coffee places?" asked Lily without actually expecting an answer. 

And that was exactly what she got, not a word but a polite smile and an act of cavalry that let her pass first through the underground doors. 

Off they went, towards Manhattan, if that was the right direction they both ignored it. It was day off for both of them, no need to think much.

Sitting on a bench in Tompkins Square. What a lovely afternoon commented Troy in his mind.

Lily seemed lost, a sip of coffee every minute, Troy had been counting. And just when he was starting to lose his mind into the cloudiness of the day she spoke.

-"Why did your parents call you Troy?" she asked inquisitive. Troy seemed confused "I guess for the same reason they called that movie like that". What could she have said then? Call him stupid and maybe never see him again or explain him that the movie was deliberately taken from Homer's works?

-"Troy" she started gently facing him directly "are you kidding me?" 

-"What did I say? Was that stupid? Did I offend you in some way?" he couldn't even find the air to breathe fully without slipping into a repeated cough. 

Lily chuckled feeling some kind of tenderness towards him, he was a good guy.  

At the end of the day she figured that date was meant to make her realize something, war was always some kind of childish thing to do, that is mine that is yours but at least then they had Achilles and they were way more romantic about death and love.