3:11AM Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tokyo, Japan

Ashley legs gave out and she crumpled to the floor as the elevator doors shut.  Only if you were standing right next to her and leaning in close could you hear the only sound that came out of her mouth:  “No.”  She sat there, staring at the elevator doors but not really seeing them. 

A man came out of his room down the hall.  An American, dressed in an Armani suit, briefcase in hand, and suitcase wheeled behind him, walked towards the elevator…and Ashley.  As he approached the sullen, non-responsive young woman, he appeared slightly confused, but mostly annoyed.  He punched the down button.

Jessica, wrapped in the hotel’s plush bathrobe, and, carrying an extra one, sprinted from Ashley’s suite to where she kneeled.  She could hear the elevator rumbling on its way up to the top floor, and put one hand on Ashley’s shoulder.  “Hey, let’s go back to the room now.  You should get some sleep.”  When Ashley still did not react, Jessica walked in front of Ashley’s vision and crouched down.  “Ash, this man needs to get into the elevator.  Please, I’ll take you back to your room,” Jessica whispered.  Jessica snuck a glance at the man, who was staring at her.  She mouthed, “I’m sorry,” and turned her attention back to Ashley. 

Although Ashley’s eyes were still not in focus, she despondently took Jessica’s hand and let herself get helped onto her feet.  Jessica wrapped the extra robe around Ashley’s shoulders.  As the elevator’s door started to open, the girls moved away.  Jessica, right arm around Ashley’s waist, left hand holding Ashley’s which was strung above Jessica’s shoulders, guided Ashley back to her suite and then to her bed.  She drew back the covers as Ashley instinctively crawled into the bed.  With the covers pulled back up, Jessica sat on the edge of the bed and, pushing aside her own feelings, looked down at Ashley. 

“You’re going to be okay.  She’s upset.  She’ll cool down and you two will work things out.  You’ll explain that nothing happened…that nothing has and nothing was going to…it’ll be okay, Ash,” Jessica rationalized as she pushed aside a curl that had fallen in Ashley’s face.  She leaned down and kissed Ashley on the forehead.  “Good night.”