A few months had gone by since Tredz took his family back to Mars. I told Throttle that I wanted him to stay faithful to me despite the long distance between us. He made me promise to do the same thing. I gave him my word that I would. He knew it would be hard to stay faithful, but I was going to keep my word.

All of us left for Chicago so I was able to bring the SUV with the boys home, Charley drove the Lambo home and Modo rode home on his bike.

Even though I was sad to see him and his mom leave, I didn't shed a tear 'til after the ship left the ball field. Modo knew how hard it was for me. He let me cry on his shoulder 'til I couldn't cry any more. I was heartbroken. The boys were too. They cried all the way home.
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Later in the day, we all got back to my house. I had Charley park the Lambo in the garage and Modo can park his bike in the garage next to Throttle's bike. There was enough room for both bikes and the Lambo. I parked the SUV off to the side of the house. I turned off the car, then looked at the boys in the back seat. They had cried themselves to sleep. I reached over and lightly shook them to wake them up.

Modo had walked over and helped me get the boys out of the SUV. He noticed that I had been crying. He put his hand on my shoulder. I looked at Modo and smiled a little. He got Tyrone out first, took him inside, then came back to get Tony.

I was too distraught to really do much and Modo understood. I just walked into the house like a zombie. I was numb and heartbroken. I walked through the house and into my room, only, I couldn't really be in there cause it reminds me of Throttle. I turned around and decided to go upstairs to the now guest bedroom.

Charley saw what was going on and felt bad for me. "She's never going to be the same, Modo."

"I know, Charley. I promised Throttle that we would help Michelle with her boys and keep her busy so she doesn't end up like Vinnie and Harley did. We also have to make sure the boys don't end up like them, too."

"Do you think she'll ever ride his bike again?"

"I don't think so. Too many memories."

"I'm going to see how she's doing. Keep the boys busy."

"I will. Maybe I'll play on their Xbox with them." Then he headed upstairs to the boys' room. Charley followed right behind Modo but went to the right to the guest bedroom.

"Knock knock, Mike."

I looked up from the edge of the bed and saw Charley. "Come on in, Charley."

"How you holding up? I know its been a few months."

"It feels like its been years since he left, Charley. I am so heartbroken right now. I can't even sleep in my own room. I feel so lost without him."

"I can't even imagine how you feel. I've never gone through what you have. I've been fortunate. We're all here for you, Mike. No matter how you're feeling, if you want to talk, we're here."

I smiled a little bit. "I know, Charley. A part of me wants to go after him, but the other part knows not to cause I had promised him that I wouldn't. I was thankful that I got to spend the last few days with him. I should have had Throttle sign the papers, then if he found someone there on Mars, he can be with that person."

"Mike, you know he wouldn't sign them. Even with him so far away, he wants to make this marriage work."

"I know he does, but I don't know how this is going to work. He's on Mars and I'm here with the boys. How is that fair? He can't hug them or spend time with them."

"Have you sign the papers yet?"

"Been thinking about it since he left, but without his signature, it would be invalid."

"Why do you want him to move on with someone new?"

"Cause of what Tony had said. Apparently, you and Modo make the boys' breakfasts in the morning."

"You've been busy keeping my garage afloat. Helping Throttle take care of the boys is the least we can do."

I thought about having Charley go get the divorce papers, but she doesn't know where they are. I stood up and headed for the stairs.

"Where you off to?"

"Gonna check the paperwork. Maybe he signed them afterall."

"Cause of the long distance?"

"Yeah." Then I walked down the stairs and into my room. I opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out the manilla envelope that has the divorce papers in it.

I pulled out the papers completely and went through all of them 'til I reached the final page. I looked at the bottom of the paper and noticed that he had signed them. I put the paperwork down and looked in the envelope. I noticed that there was another envelope inside it.

I flipped the manilla envelope over and dumped the white envelope out. I noticed that it had my name on it. I'm kinda scared to open it knowing that its going to be a letter from Throttle as to why he decided to sign the divorce papers.

Before I opened the envelope, I needed to let Modo and Charley.

I stood up and took a few steps to the doorway and called out to them.

"Modo! Charley!"

Both ran down the stairs and into my room. I had sat back down on my bed after I called out to them.

"Everything ok, Mike?"

I handed the divorce papers, with the last page showing, to Charley. She noticed Throttle's name at the bottom. She handed it over to Modo.

"I can't believe he did it, Modo."

Modo noticed Throttle's name signed at the bottom of the divorce papers then looked at me.

"I'm so sorry, Michelle. I didn't think he would actually sign these." He handed them back to me.

"He also left this with the signed papers. I'm afraid to open it."

I picked up the envelope that has my name on it. I could feel my heart breaking even more since I saw that he signed the divorce papers.

"How are you going to tell your boys?"

"I hadn't thought about that. I'm not sure how I'm gonna tell them, Charley. I'm afraid of what they might say."

"You think they might blame you for the divorce?"

"Yeah, I do. Last they knew, Throttle and I were going to try to work things out. We can't now."

"Didn't you want this to happen, Mike?"

"Not like this, Charley. I was willing to try and work things out with him. If we still couldn't get things figured out, then he was going to sign the papers. I didn't want the papers signed like this."

"Why don't you call him on Skype and find out why he did it?"

"Cause I have a feeling that's what this letter is for."

"Call him before you read it. You have the right to know why."

"I might do that. I hope he has a good reason why, too."

"Mind if we sit in on the call? We wanna know how he's doing."

"Sure. I was hoping you 2 would." I stood up again and walked out to the living room to grab the laptop.

I opened the laptop, turned it on and waited for it to boot up before I launched the Skype app.
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10 mins. after everything booted up on the laptop, I launched the Skype app. I waited for everything to come up on it before I started a video call with Throttle. Charley was right. I do have the right to find out why he signed the papers.

A few mins. later he answered the call. He didn't like the look on my face.

"Hey babe."

I shook my head back and forth. "No. You don't get to call me that any more. I just wanna know one thing. Why?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The divorce papers, Throttle! That's what I'm talking about. Did your dad make you sign them?"

"No, he didn't. I didn't want our marriage to be such a long distant relationship. I've been through this when I was with Carbine. Its not healthy and it won't be good for either of us."

"How do you expect me to tell the boys that you and I are no longer together?"

"Go get them. I'll tell them."

I went to get the boys while Modo and Charley talked with Throttle.
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"Tony, Ty. I have your father on Skype right now. He wants to talk to both of you about something."

"Why do you sound so sad, mom? Dad say something to you that hurt your feelings?"

"I'll let him tell you. Come on." Then they followed me downstairs and into the living room.

The boys sat down and saw their father on the computer screen.

"Hey dad. We miss you."

"I miss you boys too. I have something important to tell you. It was nothing that your mother or I did. It was something I decided to do before I left."

"What do you wanna tell us, dad?"

"Your mother and I are divorced as of 3 months ago. It was nothing you buys did and it was nothing your mother and I did. Since I'm here on Mars and you 3 are there on Earth, I figured it was easier to sign the papers."

The boys looked at me. I saw the tears streaming down their faces. I looked at their father and growled.

"You broke their hearts, Throttle! Do you realize what's going to happen now or did you even bother to think about that at all!"

I got up from the sofa and stormed out of the house. I was pissed. Charley told Modo to go after me to make sure I didn't do anything stupid.
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"Michelle?"

I turned around and snapped at Modo. "What!?"

Modo cautiously walked up to me. "Please don't get mad at me."

I sighed. "I'm sorry, Modo. I didn't mean to snap. I…" Then sighed again. Modo knew I was upset and heart broken. He pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around him and cried. Deep down, I wanted Throttle to come back, but at the same time, I had a feeling that he probably won't.

I looked up at Modo. "Why did I deserve this, Modo? Why me? Should have I waited to find someone different?"

"I can't answer those questions, Michelle. Those are questions that you will have to answer yourself over time. How about I take you for a ride to help clear your head?"

"That would be nice, Modo. I'm glad to have a friend like you. Thank you." Then I hugged him again.

"Let me go tell Charley that I'm taking you for a ride. Why don't you go ahead and get your helmet from the garage."

"Sounds good. I'll be here, waiting." Then I went into the garage to get my helmet, then wait out by Modo's bike.