3



Pure anguish came over Theresa as she leaned her head against the airplane window and allowed fresh tears to fall. The tears came easily and fell more freely. Theresa did not even bother to wipe them away anymore, for only more tears would come cascading down her cheeks. She forced herself to glance out of the window to get a last glimpse of the town she had called home for so long. As she bid a silent farewell, Theresa hugged herself in a futile attempt for consolation.

As the town below disappeared from sight, Theresa pulled out a picture of her son. Through teary eyes Theresa gazed tenderly at the precious photograph. Tears tumbled down her cheeks and onto the glossy surface. Regret seized Theresa as she wondered how her son would react to her departure. "I hope you don't think I abandoned you." Theresa thought sadly. "I love you," Theresa whispered before her voice broke with emotion.

Theresa leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. She felt empty inside. Her heart was shattered and felt broken beyond repair. The once optimistic starry-eyed dreamer was gone. In its place was a broken, pessimistic, and lost soul who was desperately searching for guidance.

Alone. It was what Theresa chose to be, and she was going to reap the consequences of her decision. She could not turn to the people she once did when she needed comfort. They were in Harmony, and the miles between her and them were already increasing gradually. Not to mention, the people Theresa once found comfort in were people she had come to despise. Such as Fox and Whitney for instance. Theresa did not have to ask for any comfort from Fox. Somehow he always need when she needed comfort. He never hesitated to offer consolation, and although Theresa hated to admit it, she now missed his comfort. The only person Theresa felt she could run to that did not live in Harmony was her beloved little sister Paloma. Although she was still young, Theresa felt that her sister would be able to help her pick up the broken pieces of her life. Theresa still regretted that it would not be Fox who would be by her side.

However, any thought of Fox evoked strong feelings of hurt within Theresa. She felt betrayed and used by Fox. Questions swam endlessly through her mind. Theresa did not even bother to sort through them, for she only found herself exhausted and frustrated after the attempt.

Theresa glanced out of the window and watched as the plane ascended above the clouds. The tears disappeared for the meantime. In its place was resentment. "I was so foolish," Theresa thought angrily to herself. "I should've figured out that it was Whitney who was Fox's mystery woman. The clues were right there under my nose."

Theresa frowned and shook her head in disbelief. "God!" She thought frustratingly. "Why didn't I see it sooner?" Theresa already knew the answer to the question. She did not realize that Fox was speaking of Whitney because she was too consumed with Ethan. Out in L.A. it was Ethan this or Ethan that. Despite Fox's attempts to get Theresa's mind off of Ethan, Theresa still entertained the idea that she would bring Ethan home to be a father to her son.

After finding Ethan in her bed one night, Theresa felt fate was finally working its magic. It all seemed perfect. After all was it just a coincidence that they were both in L.A. and unknowingly ended up in the same bed? However, a very pregnant Gwen was also in L.A., but due to her precarious condition, she was hospitalized. Theresa was elated to find out that Ethan still loved her and that he would have been engaged to her if Gwen had not been pregnant. They shared kisses on the beach and at Fox's L.A. apartment. All hell broke loose after Gwen left the hospital and came face to face with Theresa by the pool. And the video of Ethan and Theresa on the beach did not help matters either.

After those events everything came crashing down. Gwen unfortunately gave birth to a stillborn and blamed everything on Theresa. Theresa blamed herself, but Ethan claimed that it was his own doing that caused the death of his baby daughter. Gwen still loathed Theresa's existence and vowed to avenge her daughter's death. Rebecca vowed the same, and blackmailed Julian Crane to obtain sole custody of Ethan Martin.

Since then it was a difficult struggle. Theresa relied on Woody Stumper and the support from her family and friends throughout the custody battle. At the end of the case, the twisted Judge Reilly granted Julian sole custody of Ethan Martin. Theresa's whole world shattered when she realized that she lost her little boy. All her hopes and future plans disintegrated in front of her eyes. After returning from L.A. Theresa resolved to move on with her life. She was going to devote herself to being the best mother she could be, but that opportunity was ripped from her once Julian and Rebecca fought her for custody.
"Why did it have to be like this?" Theresa wondered. "Why?"

Theresa sighed and pulled out her cell phone. She ignored the list of missed calls and dialed her sister's number. Theresa shifted in her seat and waited anxiously for an answer.

"Hello?" Theresa heard Paloma answer.

"Paloma?" Theresa said shakily. "It's Theresa.

"Theresa!" Paloma exclaimed. "Where are you? Mama just called and asked if I'd heard from you! She told me you left Harmony."

Theresa swallowed nervously. "Yeah, I did."

"What happened?" Paloma asked her voice full of concern.

"Didn't Mama tell you?" Theresa asked.

"She told me what's been happening lately." Paloma replied. "And she read the letter, but I want to hear your version."

Theresa sniffled. "Well, my darling little boy was taken away from me. My best friends~" Theresa paused to regain composure. "Well, I feel like they've betrayed me."

"Who in particular?" Paloma asked softly.

"Fox," Theresa managed to reply before a sob escaped her lips. "I feel like he used me just to get to Whitney." Theresa whispered. "I thought that he was a true friend~" Theresa stopped talking and let the tears tumble down her cheeks.

"Oh Theresa." Paloma replied sympathetically.

"Paloma, I'm coming to stay with you and Tia Maria and Tio Fransisco, but I don't want Mama to find out. I don't want to have any contact with anyone in Harmony."

"Theresa~" Paloma replied quietly. "I'm sure you can stay with us, but you've got to tell Mama where you are."

"No," Theresa said firmly. "No, Paloma. Please promise me you or Tia Maria or Tio Francisco won't say anything about my whereabouts."

Paloma sighed. "Fine, Theresa, but sooner or later you're going to have to tell the people in Harmony where you are."

"Thank you, Paloma." Theresa replied.

"Are you flying?" Paloma asked.

"Yes," Theresa replied. "I'll call when I reach Mexico."

"I'll see you then." Paloma replied. "Hang in there, Theresa."

"I'll try." Theresa replied.

Theresa closed her eyes again. "No one in Harmony can know where I am. Not yet."

~*~