Chapter 15

Michael

Michael checked his watch for the tenth time but it was still 6:00 and he still had two hours until Sara got there. He couldn't remember a time when he'd been this happy before. He had waited for this day for so long, the day when he and Sara would finally be on the same page, the day when there would be no lies, secrets, or even anger to keep them apart.

He looked back down at his watch, 6:01.

'Okay, this has to stop.' he tought to himself as he sunk onto his bed and put his head in his hands.

Then a light seemed to click on inside his head. He grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. There was something he needed to pick up before Sara's arrival.

Sara

Sara stood staring blankly at the door in front of her. Behind that door Michael was waiting for her, waiting for her to tell him that she loved him, and waiting for her to runaway to Panama with him.

'Oh God I can't do this.' she thought to herself.

Michael

Michael took a deep breath after consulting his watch one more time. It was 7:01; she should've been there by now. He pulled the small box from his pocket and opened it up. Inside sat the simple yet still elegant engagement ring. Sure it might be a little soon considering she just broke it off with the other guy, but he didn't care. This is what he had wanted since the first day he had seen her.

He heard a small noise outside his door and went to the peephole to see who it was. Sara stood outside staring at the door. He quickly tucked the ring inside his pocket and opened the door.

Sara

'Okay, I can't do this. Maybe if I just leave...'

Sara's thoughts were interrupted when the door suddenly opened and Michael appeared in the doorway.

"Sara?" he asked when she didn't respond to his presence.

"Hey." she said coming back to reality.

"Hi." he returned flashing a smile.

He pulled her to him wrapping his arms around her.

"I missed you." he said whispered into her ear.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she let as she let out a small laugh "I've only been gone a few hours."

"I know, but it felt like years." he said pulling her tighter against him "I love you so much."

Sara squeezed her eyes shut letting his words sink in knowing this would probably be the last time she heard him say that. She buried her face in his neck reveling in the feel of his arms wrapped around her.

'I can't do this. I can't, I won't do this to him.' she tought to herself. But she knew she had to. If she didn't he would be killed because of her and she couldn't live with herself if anything happened to him. No, she had to put on a brave face and tell him that she never wanted to see him again.

He kissed the side of her head; relinquishing his hold on her.

"Sara? Are you okay?" he asked pulling back to look at her.

"Yeah. I'm fine." she replied giving him a small smile.

"No you're not. You're shaking, and have you been crying?" he gently wiped the away the tear streak on her face.

"Michael, please don't do this." she pleaded.

"Do what? Sara, tell me what's wrong. Whatever it is we can figure it out together."

"No, we can't." she said turning away, unable to look at him anymore.

"Sara, I don't understand. What's going on?"

When she didn't reply he continued "Sara, please just talk to me." he turned her around to face him.

"Michael..." she trailed off.

"Yeah." he gave her a reassuring smile and gently ran his hand up and down her arm.

'Here it goes.' she told herself taking in a deep breath.

"Michael, I've done a lot of thinking this afternoon. And what it's made me realize is that... you're not the one I want to be with."

"I'm sorry? I think I just spaced out. What did you just say?"

"I want to be with John, not you." she repeated coldly.

She watched as the light faded from his eyes and the color drained from his face.

He took a step back from her unable to look at her anymore.

"I um...um... what changed?" he asked with his back to her.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean this morning everything was great. You said you loved me and wanted to be with me and now, now you're telling me you don't."

"Yeah well things change. This morning was a mistake and should have never happened because I don't love you."

He turned around quickly at this and was now staring at her "You don't mean that."

"I do."

"Why are you doing this?" he asked running his hands over his head. "Is this about John? Did he do something?"

"What? No? Of course not!" she lied.

"Whatever he said, whatever he did to make you say this..."

"This has nothing to do with John. This about me. Why can't you just accept that?"

"Because you don't just love somebody one minute and then the next decide you don't."

"Michael..."

"I mean look at you. You can't even look me in the eye for more than two seconds."

"What's it going to take to get you to believe me?"

"Just one thing..." he says before bring her lips to his putting all the passion and love he has in his body into that one kiss.

She kisses him back feeling the fireworks erupt throughout her whole body. But the kiss is over to soon as he pulls back and looks at her cupping her face in his hands.

"Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't feel that. Tell me that you honestly don't love me. If you can do that then I will leave and won't come back."

She knew she had to do this. Because she loved him she had to tell him she didn't.

"I don't love you."

He let go of her and she turned away and headed towards the door.

"Sara." he said with his back to her so she wouldn't see the tears flowing down his cheeks. "I'll always love you. Even if you don't."

Not being able to take anymore, Sara rushed out the door before he could see her own tears.

Once he heard the door click shut Michael sank to the floor with his back to the dresser. He pulled out the small velvet box from his pocket and opened it to find the ring still nestled safely inside. He closed it not able to look at it anymore as he threw it across the room where it landed with a dull thud by the door.