Decisions: chp. three

Michelle slammed the door in Tony's face, but not before catching a glimpse of his stunned expression. How could she have said those awful things about him? She did love him. It was all lies. Her pride alone kept her from whipping open the door and throwing herself into his arms, begging forgiveness. It took all of her strength to walk away from the apartment. Their apartment. It felt as if she was walking away from another life- a life with the only person she'd ever loved and ever would love.

No, she reminded herself, climbing into her car. This is the only way they could both be happy again. Or at least, she would be happy again. Who knows if Tony ever would get over his drinking? He might end up becoming one of those guys who hangs around bars their whole life and picks up a new woman every night. Michelle couldn't bear to think of Tony in this light. She pushed the thought out of her mind.

She would find someone else, and eventually, gradually, get over Tony. Michelle had to admit to herself that it would probably be the most difficult thing she would ever have to do. The idea of a new man was not only scary, but also repulsing. She wasn't ready, and wouldn't be ready for a long time. Many months would pass of drowning in ice cream, chocolate bars, and soap operas. That, she realized, was inevitable.

For the time being she decided she didn't want to think about her bleak future that didn't include Tony. If I pretend there's no pain, there won't be. This was generally how she dealt with things. Nevertheless, she couldn't help reliving their many romantic dinners and passionate nights they had shared. Stop it. You are only making this worse for yourself. But telling herself to stop seemed to have made the pain more real. He was gone.

Michelle collapsed onto the driving wheel of her car in desperate sobs. It was really over.

After what seemed like an hour of crying hysterically in her car, her tears subsided. She brushed them away with the back of her hand, and looked at herself in the car mirror.

Michelle hardly recognized herself. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks dripping salty tears. Yet it seemed she was finally in a condition to drive, seeing as she could now actually see through the red puffy slits that were once eyes. But where was she going to go? A friend's?

After a moment of consideration, Michelle decided on renting a hotel room. She didn't think she couldn't stand any company at the time. It seemed unfair to force her damaged self on a friend. She drove to the nearest hotel, a hotel she and Tony had once spent a weekend in, and parked. Good thing she had enough money to spend as much time there as she needed. She pushed through the glass doors and booked a room on the seventh floor.

Michelle wasn't exactly sure why she wanted to stay here. She knew it would only remind her of that romantic weekend they spent together. They had never left their room.

She slid the key card through the slot in the doorway, revealing a beautiful sunlit room with a double bed, dresser, closet, and bathroom. She collapsed on the bed, as too many memories flashed before her.

Tony pulled Michelle by the hand and threw open the door to their newly booked hotel room. Without warning he scooped her up into his arms, causing her to squeal delightedly.

"How long are we staying here?" she choked out through uncontrollable giggling.

"As long as you want," he smiled seductively, bringing her into their brightly lit room.

"Just what are you implying, Mr. Almeida…?" She looked up at him expectantly, still playfully struggling in his arms.

"Oh…Nothing in particular." At these words he tossed her onto the bed and pinned her with his strong arms.

Her laughter immediately died, and she gazed up at him, in awe of the power Tony had over her. He could have done anything to her just then, and she would have obliged without a second thought. This was the strength of her love for him.

He leaned over and kissed her passionately, then pulled away and slid into the sheets beside her.

"Let's see what's on TV," he said simply, while pulling out a remote from the bedside table.

"YOU LITTLE-"

She was interrupted by a fierce tickling battle initiated by Tony.

Michelle curled up in the striped sheets in her hotel bed, this fond memory stung her more then she could have ever imagined. She turned on the TV and switched to the nearest Soap Opera channel, vaguely wondering how much of this pain she was capable of enduring.

(A/N: Sorry, that was kind of short. I'll make sure the next chapter is longer. And just in case you weren't aware, the long italicized portion was a flashback.)