London, 1923

The storm was brutal, unrelenting, rolling, heaving clouds heavy with what seemed like to be a years worth of rain, hurling blistering cold sheets of rain upon the already drenched streets of Central London.

Although it was April, this was far from a simple April shower and despite the nature of the weather, the heavy rain soothed you to sleep after a long day, until the pebbles started hitting your bedroom window, along with drunken shouts from the lonely street below.

Despite the layers of drape and glass between you and him, you knew instantly who it was. Who it was and why he was calling at such a late hour.

Roaring and hollering up at your window, nobody dared to challenge Alfie, despite the late hour and the noise he was making.

The storm matched Alfie's temper, it had reached a boiling point and it was a miracle he hadn't thrown a rock with enough force to break your window. He'd tried to court you countless times, but due to the nature of the world he lived in, the business he dealt in, you'd stepped back, wishing him well but parting from him nonetheless.

Peeking from the gap in your curtains, you found his silhouetted figure on the street, the gas lamps had long since been extinguished by the storm and the little light that remained came from the glow of the shrouded moon and the occasional bolt of lightning.

"Oi! I know you're up there! What? Too frightened to face me eh?" he sounded drunk.. you knew he didn't touch gin but he was more partial to rum and whisky.

"You promised a lifetime, but you! You left in a moment, I wonder if you even think about me, do ya? Eh? I know you can 'ear me!" he bellowed against the thunder, as if arguing with the weather itself.

"You've got me lost down 'ere on my own darlin', too lost to carry on without you, it's so dark without you.. without.. without your love.. what am I? Eh? A nobody, back to where I was.. nobody loves a nobody.." he roared up at your balcony window.