Sorry it took so long to update. My afternoon wasn't as quiet as I would have hoped. Landscapers in the front yard, pool guys in the back, and the maid insists on cleaning every room I re-locate to. Ugh, I hate hired help.

Ok sorry, enough ranting. . . here's the story

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nothing hurts, and nothing bleeds

when covers tucked in tight . . .

"Yeah, just for the weekend . . .yeah, three o'clock, my girlfriend will give you the key and tell you everything you need to know . . .ok great, thanks, bye" Greg hung up the phone and walked into the back bedroom. "Hey Hon, I gotta go."

Mary smiled, "ok, see you in Florida!" she kissed him

"There's a kid upstairs who is going to watch Buster for us," he started for the door, "I left his info on the counter, he'll be by at 3 for the key and stuff"

"Ok bye!" Mary said closing the door behind her. She went back to the bedroom to finish packing. Mary was going on vacation to Florida with her boyfriend. They had been living together for almost a year; she had a feeling that he might propose on this trip. She was afraid of that, because then the subject that she was still married might come up.

When Mary was all packed up she aimlessly wandered the apartment. She had to get a flight the next morning; Greg was using company miles so he got to go early. She made herself some popcorn, as she popped a few kernels in her mouth she walked over to the slip of paper by the phone. She picked it up, she was just curious to see who was going to be responsible for Greg's precious little wiener dog.

As she read the information scribbled on the paper she had to steady herself, she became very lightheaded, the words seemed to blur across the page.

Billy West

Apt. 314

555-5476

Mary started to have a panic attack. She was sweating and she thought she might be sick. She nervously paced around the apartment as the minutes got closer and closer to three.

When he knocked Mary jumped out of her skin. This was a moment she only had nightmares about; she never ever thought she would get to see them again. As she headed for the door she started to tell herself that it was an extreme coincidence. California was a big state; after all, it could be someone else. No, it had to be. Plus, they were probably still in Buffalo.

Her sweaty palm wrapped around the door handle and with a burst of courage she flung it open. In front of her stood a tall boy, about 14, with shaggy brown hair, in a striped polo shirt.

"God you look like you dad" Mary blurted, when she became aware that she had just spoken aloud, she drew back.

"Mary?" he said, both baffled and angry

"Hi sweetie" she said holding back tears.

Billy looked at her confused, he wasn't sure if he wanted to hug her or scream. He chose the hug and entered the apartment. Mary sat him down on the couch, and pulled a chair up across from him.

She stared at him; still teary eyed "so how are you?"

"I'm pretty good. I'm a freshman now" Billy continued to tell Mary about his new girlfriend, and about how his football team went to state. He felt strange having to explain his life to a woman who was legally his mother, and the only mother he had ever known.

"And. . .And your sister?" Mary asked leaning forward.

"Um, she's great. She really likes first grade a lot. She plays soccer and basketball . . ." Billy paused, "she looks a lot like you"

Mary sensed the anger in Billy; it was almost filling the room, "It's ok Billy, say it. Whatever it is you've been building up for seven years"

Billy had asked himself every night since Mary left, "what would I say if I saw Mary again?" It seemed that as the years went by the answer got more complicated and more resentful. He just let it all out, "did you ever even think about what might happen to us?" Billy's voice was shaking, "dad went crazy after you left. He was a total wreck, plus he had a newborn to take care of, and a little boy to take to school. He got fired for missing so much work, so we had to go to GlenOak and live with my grandparents."

Mary uncomfortably stared at the floor.

"So where did you go?" Billy asked her; they all wondered where it was she had run off to.

Mary cleared her throat, eyes still intently on the floor, " I lived in a motel in Syracuse for quite awhile." She considered not telling Billy the rest of the story. Then she had remembered that like his dad, Billy had to grow up way to fast. "I drank a lot, I was very very depressed. I had no money, no job, and no family. I seriously considered suicide for a long time. A lady at the bar I went to suggested that since I was always there, I might as well make money. So I was a bartender for 5 years. That's how I met Greg." She looked up at Billy with an uncomfortable smile.

Billy sat quiet, and then finally asked, "Did you plan on ever coming back?"

"Yes" Mary said, "that was always my intention. But I always told myself it had been too long. And that you guys wouldn't want me back"

Billy had angry tears running down his face, " you know every morning dad would wake up and say to himself, 'today's the day she's coming back' he doesn't say it anymore, but we all know he thinks it." Billy stood up and started pacing, "Did you even love him?!"

"Yes," Mary was crying now, "of course I did"

"Not enough obviously" Billy spat, "you know how awkward it is when Andie comes home from school, or a friend's house and she asks us why she doesn't have a mommy?" Mary started to speak, but Billy cut her off, "don't even tell me that sending a birthday card every few years makes you our mother." He started for the door, "my real mother didn't want to leave me, that's just the way God wanted it. But you . . .you had a choice"

He opened the door and Mary rose and grabbed his arm. She still had so much to ask him, she needed to talk to him. "Billy you can't leave" she pleaded with tears pouring down her face.

"You taught me how" Billy snarled and slammed the door behind him.

One last chance to feel alright . . .

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reviews are always greatly appreciated