7:43 PM. Connie checks her phone as she leaves the restaurant. The celebration was over and everyone had wished her well. Her move to Los Angeles was coming up quickly and everyone was happy for her, everyone except Mike. He rudely skipped the going away dinner and it was the last straw for her. She arrives at the DA's office and heads straight to Mike, a woman on a mission. She tosses her purse at her chair when she passes her little workspace.
He is sitting at his own desk staring at some document in a folder.
She sets a takeout box in front of him to get his attention. He is startled. -"What's this?"
-"Leftover spring rolls."
-"Thanks." He slides the box away and goes back to reading. -"I thought you were going out for drinks after."
-"I changed my mind. Everyone was asking about you."
-"That's a waste of a conversation."
-"So since you're making me ask, why didn't you go?"
-"I'm busy."
-"It felt deliberate, you not being there."
-"I don't have time to be that passive aggressive."
-"You're purposely taking on more work. You're supposed to be delegating."
-"Maybe I'm a control freak."
Connie drops her palms onto his desk heavily and leans closer to him. -"You're not and it would be nice if the last few days I have here aren't ruined by whatever game it is that you are playing."
Mike rolls backward in his chair and stands up. -"Me doing what's in my job description is playing a game?"
-"I can't tell if you're playing dumb to hurt me or if you really can't figure out why I'm upset."
-"You're always upset." He shuts the door to the hallway.
-"And you're always indifferent."
-"Nothing I say or do changes anything. I am powerless here and I'm not sure what you're expecting from me." Now he is looking at his phone and scribbling a note onto the whiteboard. He is pushing all of Connie's buttons.
-"You've known about me leaving for over a month now and you're pretending like nothing is happening. I let it slide at first but I can't anymore. I thought I meant more to you."
-"What would you like me to say?"
-"I would take anything, any comment at all, at this point." Connie turns and sits on top of the middle table.
-"Good luck on your future endeavors. How's that?"
She knows he is being sarcastic because he is afraid. -"Friday at 5:00 PM I will leave my desk for the last time. I will come in here and say goodnight to you for the last time. Then I'll turn in my badge to security and that's it."
-"I know that."
-"Friday will be your last chance."
He is done with his notes and turns to face her. -"To do what? This is not one of Jane Austen's plots, Connie. This is real life and things don't always work out the way we want. Like I said, this wheel is already in motion."
-"Then slow it down."
He shakes his head in disapproval. -"I would prefer for all of this to be over already."
She hugs her arms across her chest. -"That's how you feel after three years together day in and day out? Just good riddance?"
He puts his phone back into his pocket. He looks at her with a shameful face. -"You know that's not how I feel."
-"Then tell me." She slowly walks toward him. She knows he is struggling to find the words and it will take a miracle for Michael Cutter to humble himself. She slips her arms around his neck. She rests her forehead against his and whispers to him - "Let me in."
He holds her hips firmly. He hesitates to tell her what she wants to hear because what's the point? It's too late for them. At the end of the week she would be a million miles away. -"I don't know what to do without you."
-"Then we have to make the most of the time we have left." She places a quick kiss on his lips. "Take me home with you." Another kiss. "I don't want to waste another minute without you." And another kiss.
He cups his hands against her cheeks and looks at her with desire and affection. Innocent little pecks are not enough and Connie commands his mouth with her own. He gives in to her and they let every emotions, big and small, control their movements. They are in danger of getting caught by anyone that passes by but neither cares because what would it matter anyway.
Connie pulls away from the embrace to catch her breath. -"I don't want this moment to end. I want to remember this forever."
He brushes her hair back behind her ear. -"So am I forgiven for missing your dinner?"
-"Yes. This is all I wanted. You are all I want."
-"You can have me. Just let me get my things."
Connie smiles knowing that even though she can't rewrite the past or change her future, she is in control of the present. She waits by the bookcase for Mike to pack up his laptop and important papers. He latches his briefcase and moves toward the door. He extends his arm. -"Let's go. We have a few memories to make."
They walk to the elevators hand in hand.
