Just as they reached the boat landing, Sugar let go of Joe's hand.

"What's wrong?" Joe asked.

"This. I can't... do this." Sugar replied.

"What are you talking about?"

When Sugar turned away, Joe gently turned her to face him. Suddenly he looked into her eyes as though he were seeing her for the first time.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Sugar asked.

"What did Milton do to you?" Joe asked gently. His beautiful Sugar's face was filled with pain. There were smudges of dirt on her cheeks and forehead.

He reached for her hand and was surprised to find rough, dry skin instead of its usual silkiness, wondering why he hadn't noticed it before.

"Sugar, what did Milton do to you?" He asked again.

"N-nothing. H-he just..."

"Sugar, please! I need to know!"

"Why? So you can use it against me?" she yelled, startling him with the outburst.

"No. Of course not." He answered softly. "I-I just... care about you."

"Then why, Joe? Why did you lie to me?" she asked. "All I wanted was for someone to love me... for me! I know I'm not very bright. In fact, I'm the most gullible person on the planet, but I have feelings, Joe!"

The tears that glistened in her eyes were now falling onto her cheeks.
Joe stared at her, suddenly ashamed. He had no idea that he had hurt her this deeply.

"Sugar, I-."

"Goodbye, Joe." She let go of his hand and turned to run away.

"Sugar!" Joe called to her. "Wait! Sugar please! Don't leave me again! I love you!"

When she didn't stop, he started to run after her.

When she disappeared from sight, Joe stopped and sighed.

Joe! Where are you going?"

He stopped and turned to find Jerry running toward him.

"I was trying to catch Sugar." He said, trying to catch his breath.

"Catch Sugar? Why?"

"She left me." He said sadly.

"Left you? Again?"

Joe looked away.

Jerry put his hand on Joe's shoulder. "Hey, I'm sorry about that. What happened?"

"It just wasn't meant to be." Joe said.

"Joe, you can't think that she's gone forever." Jerry said.

"Well, what else can I think, Jerry? I broke her heart! I lied to her!"

"So fight for her, Joe! Go find her and profess your love to her!"

"You really think she'll listen to me?" Joe asked.

"She's hurting right now. Boy, whatever Milton Warner did to her must have been a doozy."

"And it's all my fault." Joe said.

"Find her, Joe. You love her and I know she loves you. You deserve it." Jerry said.

Joe smiled, deeply touched that his friend cared about him. In a gesture that surprised even Joe, he reached out and hugged his friend. "Thanks, Jerry."

Uncomfortable with the sudden sentiment, Jerry's face reddened. "Go on, get out of here."
Jerry smiled as he watched Joe take off in search of the woman he loved.