Disclaimer: This story is not mine, nor are the characters invovled.


He sat at home that night with a half empty glass of whiskey in his hand, alone, so utterly alone. His life had just irrevocably changed for the worse, he was sure of it. She had refused when he called to confirm their date. He couldn't even ask why before she had ended the conversation with a short "I'm sorry, Jim." He hadn't had the strength to call back and ask why. A few spoken words from the voice he lived to hear had ripped him in two. He thought it had hurt the first time she denied him, but the second time was more than he could stand. He had come so close to having all that he'd wanted. His ride home from work today was the most joyous ride ever. He could barely remember driving at all, his state of euphoria so extreme. And yet, in a few short hours he had gone from the highest high to the lowest low. Its over, he wouldn't have a third chance and he wasn't sure he would be able to try again if he did. He raised his glass to his lips and took a small sip. He relished in the burn of the whiskey going down his throat, it distracted him from the burn in his heart. He got up and threw the empty bottle away and staggered to the kitchen sink. He splashed some water on his face and remembered that he'd be seeing her in a few short hours at work tomorrow. Could life be so cruel? He thought about calling in sick tomorrow but then remembered that she would answer the phone. The thought of letting her know how she had destroyed him persuaded him to just go to work anyways. Unfortunately that half a bottle of whiskey had taken control and he couldn't stop himself as he walked over to his phone. He sat down hard on the couch and dialed her number expertly. It rang once, twice, three times and for a second he thought life had given him a break. He thought too soon. Her sweet voice answered the phone. He heard her voice and he knew nothing had changed for him. He still belonged to her in every way possible. Forgetting himself he whispered a desperate "please." A plea from an innocent man to a jury deciding his fate. Her next words would decide his fate, for she had to know it was him. "Jim?" she asked. "Are you okay?" He couldn't respond with anymore than another broken "please." He could hear her release a shaky breath. Maybe she was regretting her decision, just maybe. "Jim, I'm sorry." He couldn't decide what she was sorry for. Sorry for making a mistake or sorry for crushing his heart. "Do you think we can try this again tomorrow night?" she asked. He thought the whiskey was making him hear things so he answered with a short, "huh?" "I mean only if you want to that is. I should have gone out with you tonight but I was scared. I'm an idiot and I'd really like to go out with you tomorrow night if you'll still have me." She replied. He still couldn't believe his ears but he understood enough that this really was it this time. He would actually have what he had wanted from afar. "Yeah, yeah lets go out tomorrow around 7, that okay?" he asked with baited breath, praying that she wouldn't destroy what was left of his heart. "Seven sounds great, thanks again Jim. I am really sorry about earlier." She said. As if he could stay mad at her now, "No, it's fine. I understand. Just…just don't do that again, okay?" He asked. "Don't worry, I won't." She said. He laid down in bed a few minutes later, wondering how life could change so drastically in one day. He knew without a doubt that he would suffer all the heartache in the world if only to be around her one more day. But this, this was different. She was giving him a chance to be in her life rather than just an onlooker. He wouldn't mess this up, because without her, who was he? He closed his eyes and a ghost of a smile graced his lips and he whispered her name into the dark. Tomorrow would be a new day, tomorrow would be the start of something great, the start of their life together.