Michelle sat for a long time, the signed divorce papers in her hands. She didn't want this to be her only choice, but she was afraid of what the alternative might be. She had signed, but something was keeping her from sealing those papers in the envelope and putting them in the mail.
She closed her eyes and memories of her life with Tony flowed through her mind. Her first feelings for him, their first kiss, first date, first time together. The moment she realized she loved him, and that he was 'the one.' Their wedding. Late night conversations, moments he had made her laugh, discussing the future of their family, knowing that, for one man, she was everything. Dreaming of growing old with him by her side. How could all of that be gone? How could so much heartache have come from opening two glass doors?
Once, she had been amazed by the strength of Tony's love for her. She would lie awake thinking about it, wondering what she had done to deserve such attention. She had watched him while he slept, thinking of how lucky she was to have him by her side, forever. But for Tony, his love had become a curse. She had destroyed him with her own mistake. She had made him weak, and that weakness had destroyed him. If only they had never met, they both could have lived their lives never knowing what was possible. If Tony had never loved Michelle, he would be free.
Now, Tony wanted her to leave. Did he still love her? Michelle realized she couldn't blame him if he didn't. Was she just a burden to him now? Just an unhappy reminder of his own weakness, the cause of his imprisonment? Michelle wished that she could take his place. She wished that she had not opened those doors, that she had not been immune, and that Tony had been able to choose the welfare of the American people over her own.
As she thought about his sacrifice, however, her resolve weakened again. She took the signed papers out of the mailing envelope and placed them back in the drawer. But she was not sure if it was for Tony's welfare, or her own.
Time continued to pass, and Michelle continued to live two separate lives, a quiet battle against the loneliness she feared. One night, as Michelle was cooking dinner, her phone rang. She was surprised to hear Jack on the other end. "Michelle? I can hardly hear you." Jack's voice was garbled by the poor reception at his end.
"Jack? I can't hear you, where are you?"
"I'm in the Washington D. C…." His voice went static-y.
"Where," Michelle yelled back, as though being louder would fix the reception.
"The Metro! I have news about Tony. He's…." The line went dead. Michelle's heart seemed to jump clear up into her throat. Tony? What about Tony? She stared at her phone, willing it to ring again.
After a few moments, the phone in her hand did ring again, startling her even though she had expected it. "Jack, what did you say about Tony?" she said without first checking to see if it was actually him.
"Michelle! I just spoke with President Palmer. He's going to pardon Tony! Tomorrow! He'll be free by tomorrow!"
Michelle almost dropped the phone. "What? Free! Oh, Jack! How can I ever thank you enough? How… how did you get this to happen?" Michelle was so excited her voice squeaked.
"It wasn't that hard, Michelle, once I actually got to speak with the President in person. He's a good man, and he's on his way out of office anyway, so he could care less about how it looks politically."
Michelle talked with Jack for a few more minutes, but realized once she hung up that she couldn't remember any of the conversation after he had told her that Tony would be free. Tomorrow. Michelle sank down to her knees and thanked God, laughing and crying at the same time. Then she realized she need to pack, so she ran upstairs. Then that she needed to call Bill and ask for time off of work, so she ran back downstairs to get the phone. Then she realized that she needed plane tickets, first, and rushed to her computer. Then that she had left the stove on and her chicken was burning. Michelle smiled as the black smoke rising from the stove set the fire alarm off: suddenly the life she thought was only a memory seemed to be coming back to her.
