I know that I have a lot of stories I should be working on, but I just wanted to write something else. It's only a short story, but I would appreciate you all replying, please. Thanks a lot.

HIS MISTAKE

It had been his mistake, his fault. Most mistakes are redeemable. However, not when it comes to somebody else's life. She hadn't deserved it, she hadn't asked for it to happen. She had only asked to be his friend, his soulmate. How hadn't she known that it would have been a death sentence. After knowing him as long as she had, she should have known it was a relationship she couldn't survive. Now, she would never be given the chance to go back, to make a different choice. He wasn't even sure she would make a different choice if she could, she was that loyal. She would stick with him forever if she could, no matter what the consequences. He hadn't even tried to warn her. He was so glad that she noticed him that he had decided against giving her reason to change her mind, even if it were best. Now, she may have left this world thanks to his selfishness.

He felt his eyes watery with tears as his love's best friend started walking over to him. It was sickening, watching her, knowing she hadn't given a damn, knowing that she wasn't the least bit upset, knowing that on the inside, she was smiling. "Hello Whitney, to what do I owe the pleasure?" His grin was menacing as he looked at her.

She smiled devilishly. "Why so sour looking? It's not as if she hadn't deserved it. She should have known better, getting involved with you, that is. I tried to warn her, I told her you would be the death of her, and everytime, she got so defensive, defending you every step of the way, and look where that's gotten her. It's not as if she's being rewarded for her wasted time spent on you. And how she loved you. Do you think she would love you if she knew just what you did. And I'm just talking about her death, either. I'm sure she could understand that. But if she had known you were cheating on her, how do you think she would have acted?"

"You bitch!" His fists clenched at his sides. "She was more woman than you could ever dream of being. And I don't ever want to hear you disrespecting her again, do you understand me? As long as I'm around, you will always treat her with the respect she deserves, and nothing less." He turned away from her, once more looking at the words engraved on the tomb stone in front of him.

Theresa Marie Lopez-Fitzgerald-Crane

1980-2005

Beloved daughter, sister, mother, and fiancee

He bent his head, unable to hold back the sobs any longer. She was gone. How could she be gone? How was he supposed to wake up every morning, and not see her lying next to him? How could he live without seeing her smile, without comforting her, without supporting her, without being the fiancee that she had deserved to have by her side. He was surprised that Pilar had even agreed to have Crane added on her tomb stone, knowing all they'd done to her, all they'd taken from her. And he was one of them. Without her realizing it, he had taken so much from her himself. She had always claimed he was different, he was better than his family, when in reality, he was just like them, if not worse.

"God, Theresa, I love you so much...so much!" He cried, picturing her face before him. How he wished he could have grabbed onto, held onto her hopes.

He remembered seeing her turn to run after his confrontation. He remembered her backing away from him too quickly, losing her footing on the cliff they were standing on, he watched her slip, slowly fall, and then, she reached out, grabbed onto something. Her eyes had been so full of hope, only to rapidly lose it. He reached out, praying he'd be able to grab onto her, his prayers remained unanswered. The branch broke, she fell. The last sound he ever heard from her was a heart-breaking scream. A scream that would forever invade his dreams and haunt him at night. It would be his reminder forever, never letting him forget.

As he slowly bent down to kiss the tomb stone, the last thing he whispered to her was, "Goodbye my love!"

Well, what'd you all think. Please give feedback, thanks.

Denise