CHAPTER 22 Shooting

Teresa roamed the dark streets of LA, not knowing where she was or where she was going. She felt tired emotionally, drained from she had learned.

"They really ruined my life."

She heard footsteps behind her. She walked faster.

"Teresa, wait. I need to talk to you."

"There's nothing to talk about Gwen. Please, just leave me alone."

"Teresa, please hear me out."

Teresa stopped and looked at Gwen.

"No, I don't want to know whatever else you have to say to me. I don't think I can take anymore pain."

"You have to know that I didn't know about any of that until today."

"Maybe, but you and your mother set in motion all those events."

"I know."

"I never wanted to hurt you Gwen. I never hated you."

"I'm not sure about that."

"It's the truth. I know that you and me never saw eye to eye on a lot of things. I know that we were competing for Ethan's heart, but I wished often that you and I could have the easy friendship we had before all of this ever happened between us."

Teresa looked at her and Gwen somehow felt that she could believe her.

"I want that too, an easy friendship. But Ethan will always come between us."

Gwen looked at a couple of people who were passing by.

"No, he won't, Gwen."

"And why would you say that?"

"Because I've moved on with my life. Ethan will always have a place in my heart. He was my first love, the man I wanted to be with so badly..."

"And now?"

"I don't feel the same way about him. I got tired of chasing a dream. It was beautiful while it lasted."

"Why should I believe you?"

"It's your choice to believe what I say or dismiss it. All I know is that I've grown up a lot since the first day we met. Not everything is black and white."

Gwen smiled. She felt comfortable telling Teresa the biggest secret of all. She felt that she should give little Ethan back to her and that her husband should know that he has another son. That's the way things should be anyway. A loud noise was heard.

"What the hell is this?"

Both Gwen and Teresa turned to see what was going on.

"Are those gun shots?"

"I don't know."

A 4 by 4 drove by and they had the time to see fire spitting out of the rifle.

"Gwen, watch out!"

Everything went dark.