And then she was left alone again. Left to find a way to pick up the miserable pieces that had once been her life. A week later she arrived home to find a small brown package by her doorstep. She frowned at it in confusion. She hadn't ordered anything.

Once inside after she had shed her jacket she tore open the package. In it was a note, and a cassette tape. She glanced at the note first.

Don't forget me. I just want forgiveness. Please, Lisa. Don't run away. Just listen to the tape. This song reminds me of you. Please.

-J

Lisa breathed a shaky breath and inserted the tape into her tape player. She sank onto the couch as a song began to play.

"This time, this place, misuse, mistake. Too long, too late, who was I to make you wait? Just one chance, just one breath, just in case there's just one left, cause ya know, ya know, ya know..." Lisa began to cry, feeling as if everything she'd felt the last month was summed up in this song.

"I love you, and I loved you all along. And I miss you, been far away for far too long. I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go, stop breathing, if I don't see you anymore."

"On my knees, I'll ask, last chance for one last dance. Cause with you, I wish that, all of it will hold you in..."

"Give it all, give it us, give anything but I won't give up..."

The words were so heartfelt, so painfully true that Lisa felt they were speaking to her. Finally it ended and she shook with silent sobs. She asked herself why. Why was she upset over all this?

You loved him, and he played with your heart, she told herself.

But he wants you still, a voice in her head argued.

But I can't tell if he's sincere, if he'll be there for me, the first voice contradicted.

You won't know if you don't-

I can't.

But you-

No.

Lisa-

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Lisa was on her knees, her hands clamped over her ears as she screamed the last part. She heard a voice gasp in the doorway and looked up into her father's worried face.

"So how long have you been acquainted with Mr. Rippner?" the shrink asked. Lisa looked up and brushed a stray curl from her face.

"Four years."

"Please, Ms. Reisert, I believe I'd be able to help you cope better if I knew what happened exactly," the shrink prodded. Lisa sighed and looked at her hands, her face edged with exhaustion. She began the lengthy story of the Red Eye flight and when she finished said,

"And then a month or so again when I'd already heard he was out of jail I was in the theater with my cousin and he kidnapped me and Mel Keefe in yet another assassination plot. Later he exchanged Mel for Sarah Keefe and I got along well with her. Anyway he told me before...on a train, with Mel...that..."

"What did he tell you?" the shrink pressed.

"He told me...he loved me. And later with Sarah...I began having feelings for him somehow. I kissed him once and began falling in love, I guess...it seemed alright...I still had to help with the plan though."

"And Keefe did die," the shrink concluded.

"Yeah," Lisa whispered. "I actually...I actually believed him when he said he loved me. I let myself fall for a guy after I thought I'd never be happy again. After I was raped I didn't think I could be happy but that's what Jackson gave me. And then he snatched it all away by going through with the job. And now he's calling me, and sending me notes and saying he still loves me but I can't let myself believe that because I'll just get hurt again. And I keep seeing him and hearing him everywhere. I just...want him to go away so I can move on with my life but he won't!" Lisa began crying. The shrink just looked at her with a blank expression.

"So how do you feel about that?"

Although the shrink had given Lisa no real advice, she felt better. Slightly healed as if by screaming her demons they'd escaped her.

Lisa began to calm a bit. Of course, she thought about him daily still, but not as consistently as before.

One night a month after she'd met with the shrink, she arrived home. She pulled her Explorer up in front of her apartment after work and pulled out her housekey. She wanted nothing more than to eat some dinner and get some sleep.

Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side as she saw an unfamiliar black car parked next to hers. She cautiously grabbed her pepperspray as a man, his face shadowed, stepped out. She stumbled up the stairs and had almost made it to her door when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around, gasping in fright until she saw his face. Her heart stopped.

Jackson.

"Lisa," he whispered, his face almost begging.

"Jackson," she answered, still shocked. "N-no. You need to leave."

"Why?" he asked, moving closer. She backed up as far as she could with her back up against the apartment door.

"Because," Lisa answered childishly.

"Lisa, just listen. I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't want for you to be involved but it was necessary. You're not just some other girl, I love you," a tear slid down her cheek and he cupped her chin and brushed it away. "Give me another chance, please."

"I can't, Jackson. You keep hurting me. How do I know you're not going to anymore?" Lisa whispered.

"Lisa, I love you more than anything and I promise...I promise I won't hurt you. And I don't fall back on promises." Lisa looked deeply into his eyes. They looked so helpless, so desperate.

"I want stability, Jackson. I want something you can't give me."

"I can," he argued. "I can, Leese."

"No," she whispered.

Jackson sighed. "I love you, Lisa. And I always will. But I'm not going to keep bothering you. If you really want me out of your life, say the word and I'm gone forever." His voice was choked.

Lisa looked at him and fought the strong emotions her heart was radiated. She let her mind, for once, take over.

"Go. Please."

Jackson bit his lip and backed away. "Goodbye, Lisa. Goodbye forever."

Lisa's tears slid down her face as she watched his retreating back. She fought back sobs and turned to unlock her door.

I love you, and I loved you all along. She paused. Her heart raced. And then she threw her purse to the ground and ran back down the stairs.

"Jackson!" he turned, his face tired and questioning.

Lisa breathed a deep breath. "I lied."

Jackson ran to her and quick as a heartbeat had her in his arms, their mouths colliding beautifully. She desperately kissed him and pressed herself tightly against him, finally letting the sobs escape her.

"Don't leave me, Jackson," she sobbed as he held her. "I love you."

"I won't, Leese," he whispered. "I won't hurt you. I promise you that."

And then, finally, life returned to normality.

AUTHOR'S NOTE- That's all, folks! Please exit the theater in a neat and orderly fashion and dispose of your garbage in the receptacles provided. Please return for my sequel and review. Thank you.