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MARIA

(Countdown Part Deux)

Countdown. Exactly seven days until the day I have to watch the man I love marry another. Why do these things always happen to me? First my ex boyfriend falls in love with one of my friends and now this. I don't think I can take much more pain.

Countdown. Exactly seven days until the day I can get away from all this pain. Why must I always fall for the men I can't have? Why must I always be the one in the position of envying others? First I was in envy of Liz's relationship with Max, then Isabel's with Alex, and now Max with his new bride. Why couldn't it be me?

Countdown. Exactly seven days until the day I can stop receiving those annoying calls from Isabel and Liz. Why do I need to hear how much of an ass Liz thinks Max is? Why do I care what the colors for the wedding are going to be? Why do you need my opinion on the menu and the flowers and all that other wedding mumbo jumbo crap? It's not like Max is going to not marry the girl and it's not like I'm the one he was marrying no matter how much I wish that it was true.

Countdown. Exactly seven days until the day I can leave for the vacation that I've been planning since the day I learned that Max was getting married. Ten fabulous days spent in Paris, France. I always wanted to go to France. I remember telling Max that one night. Anyway, I managed to get a cabin at a little bed and breakfast just outside of Paris. It's going to be a start in a long process in getting over Max Evans.

Countdown. Exactly seven days until the day that I…

Ring! Ring!

"Hello?"

"Hello Maria, it's me Tess."

"Hello Tess?"

"I know we've never been the best of friends but I was just checking to see if you're doing okay. I know how much this wedding must be stressing you out."

I was shocked and felt really good. No-one had paused to ask me how I felt lately. "I'm holding up Tess. I feel a little sad and hurt but I'll get over it. Thank you so much for asking me."

"It was no problem. Maybe we can have a girl's day out on Wednesday. I can fly out there tomorrow. You know just to get your mind off things."

"Sure that would be great." I said. I gave her my address and we set our plans for tomorrow and the next day. Finally something to do that wasn't directly related to the wedding of Max Evans. "Thank you so much Tess you're a lifesaver."

"No problem. Now get some sleep and try to have pleasant dreams."

tbc