A/N: I apologize for all the small little typos in every chapter. I try and fix them all, but I'm only human, so I miss some. And apparently my spell check, who is not human, misses them also. So just look past them and fix them mentally in your head for me (:
Also, I can't stress this enough, please review! I love getting good and bad feedback. If you have something negative to say, my feelings won't get hurt. I want to know what you like most about it and what I can improve on. Don't be shy! (:
I sat, numbly in the chair before the police. They wanted to clear my name. They didn't think I was at fault, but they had to do their job and make sure.
I quietly, and as politely as I could muster, answered every question they shot at me. I had to explain, in as much detail as I could (or that I could remember) exactly what had happened. I did.
"Alright, well. I wish we could do more, but the one we really want to question is passed. I'm sorry for your loss Miss Santos. If you need anything, please, don't hesitate to call." One of them said.
I nodded solemnly and left.
Since when had my life turned into such a Lifetime movie? Sure, I was no stranger to drama, I'll admit. It had seemed to follow me like a ghost where ever I went. As big a part as it had in my life, it was still hard to get used to it. I was sick of the constant heartache and tears. I just wanted it all to stop.
And, oh, how I missed my beautiful Max. I would never run my hands through his hair or see his goofy grin or hear his bad jokes or make blanket forts with him. Ever. Again.
I had finally found my happiness in him. And now that he was gone, it felt as if so was my happiness. For good this time.
I had never contemplated just offing myself before, but it seemed like the most plausible way to end my sorrows. And I would be with my Max again.
The world was against me. And it had won the game. There was no more use in my desperate attempts to get ahead. It was always one step ahead of me, laughing and taunting.
I had pulled to the side of the road. The bridge I so often crossed in my car was there, laying in front of me. Waiting for me to seize the opportunities it held.
I walked slowly up to it. I put my hands onto the ledge and slowly leaned over, looking down. I took a deep breath, watching the water rush by underneath. Dare, I?
It was a long way down and it would surely kill me in an instant. Dare, I?
I lifted myself onto the ledge, sitting precarious on the edge. I stood up, ready to make the plunge.
"Manny?" A woman's voice called out.
"Manny?" She was closer.
I slowly turned around, angry at whoever was interrupting my end. My eyes widened. "Emma?"
I sat on her yellow sofa.I lazily traced the light yellow flowers that covered it. She returned carrying a mug of hot tea in each hand. I took one of them.
"Manny, I'm so sorry." She said finally, after we sat in silence. I could tell she meant it.
"I am too."
"About everything, I mean." She began. "I admit, I was really hurt when I saw the two of you. I didn't realize until now how petty and stupid I had been." She paused, looking at my reaction.
She continued, "I thought I would make myself better by doing the same thing. I'd heard you had a miscarriage and that you were taking it really hard. I seized the opportunity to snatch him back. I'm sorry. It was a whore move on my part."
I shrugged. "It's water under the bridge." I laughed at the irony.
I could see panic wash over Emma's face. I think she thought I was literally going "coo coo bananas."
"I'm sorry…it's just. Kind of silly now, right?" Sitting there, in Emma's brightly colored living room, I still understood why I had wanted to kill myself but, I knew deep down that Max wouldn't want me to commit suicide. Were he alive, he wouldn't have let me give up sp fast
Emma began to cry. She pulled me into a hug. I sat there awkwardly patting her back before bursting into my own fit of tears. We cried in each others arms, with no one else to turn to but each other. Funny how things work out…
When we were finished, Emma began again. "I'm also sorry about Max. I can see how much he meant to you."
I slowly nodded. "Funny how in love I thought I was with Sean. It was no where near how I felt about Max." I paused. "We were engaged. He proposed the day before he…" A new round of tears fell from my eyes. I didn't want to confide in her so soon, but here I was. I almost, almost, felt like we hadn't gone through years of silence, without a word.
"Manny, I'm so sorry," Emma said through her own sobs. "I hope I don't hurt you more with what I'm about to tell you, but…I'm pregnant. With Sean's baby. I'm pregnant." Her hands flew up to cover her face. She bent down, her whole body jolting from the sobs.
For reasons unknown, I knew she was going to say that. I also knew that I was actually glad to have my friend back.
It seemed like one tragedy after another, I was staying at someone else's home and secretly wishing I had my own little sanctuary to call home, where no bad memories haunted me. This time was no different, for I was staying with Emma. I was afraid to go back to the house Max and I were sharing. I was also afraid to go back to the apartment Sean and I had shared. So there I was.
Emma and I were standing in her spare bedroom, in our grungy clothes, painting the walls a light yellow.
"You sure like yellow," I said, teasingly.
"It's my favorite color. Besides, it's a color that's good for a boy or a girl. What could be better?" She said.
I laughed. "If you say so."
She turned to me, in all seriousness. "I don't know if I've told you yet, but I'm really grateful we're friends again. I'd probably go insane if I didn't have anyone to help me through this. I hope you feel the same. And I hope I'm able to help you too."
I nodded. "I do feel the same. Thank you." I paused. "Honestly, I never thought this would happen. Me and you, talking again."
Emma smiled. "I didn't either. But I'm glad I was proven wrong."
"Me too," I said. "Me too."
