~Chapter Three~

''Playing With Fire.''

Meryl has been hospitalised for a little over a week now and I've been going to see her ever since that tragic day, bringing her fresh flowers(Tulips are her favorite) when the old ones died.

On weekends I'd get up and dressed, brush my hair, clean my teeth, and be out the door on my way to the hospital. Saying good morning to mum now, had turned into ''Morning Mum! I'm going to see Meryl, love you, bye'' and a kiss on the cheek. Somedays when I closed the door to our hotel suite behind me, I'd end up with my back against it weeping, with my hand over my mouth and my arms and legs feeling like they where made of led. Today, was one of them.

By the time I recovered, I was on the floor, face in my hands and my arms resting on the sides of my out-streached legs. I dried my red, stinging eye's and practically ran the rest of the way to the hospital. I could feel my heart breaking yet again, and thought to myself repeatedly: She'll be okay she'll get outta there soon and you'll both be able to get on with your lives.

I ran up the corridor to the ward where Meryl was and noticed she was sleeping, so I quietly filled the vase on Meryl's bedside table with water, removed the dead flowers, threw them out, and replaced them with the fresh red tulips. Not wanting to deprive Mer of some much needed sleep, I quietly pulled a nearby chair closer to her bed and sat down. After half an hour of sitting next to Mer and just watching her sleep, which I didn't mind a bit because she looked so peaceful, I gently started storking her face.

Minutes later she opened her eyes, and was met by the sight of her saviour stroking her softly and sitting by her bed. As soon as Mer was fully awake, saying nothing, she lifted her arms and pulled me into one of the most amazing hugs I think I've ever had, and ever will have. I didn't know why she was hugging me, but my guess was that being bedridden and riddled with terrors of the incident for a week really took a toll on her emotions. I heard quiet sniffing near my sholder and realised she had begun to cry. I gently pulled away from her, whiped the tears off her face with my hand and whispered:

''Shhhhh....darling....it's okay..Hey, come on.....shhhh, It's okay.''

I put the rails of her bed down and sat on it, pulling Meryl up into a sitting position facing me, she was off the oxygen now which gave her a lot more freedom.

Meryl then sobbed and moved closer to me before she placed her face on my cheast, gulping air she choked waterly:

''I'm sorry, sweetheart...I don't know whats wrong with me...''

''Honey, you've been through a very traumatic experience. Your husband's over in London and your kids are off shooting movies while your in hospital. It's okay, you're allowed to cry.''

''I love you, Bell...''

''I love you too, Mrs Dalloway...More than you'll ever know...''

I stroked her hair, kissed her and rocked her gently side to side in my arms...I wanted to stay with her...until the day I died.

~Four Years Later~

Tonight's the night! It's the night Meryl and I are going out for dinner at La' Bella Stars I mean, it wasn't super special, we went out for dinner together three nights ever other week, but this time Meryl said she needed to tell me something important. I scrambled to get ready. My make up and outfit had to be absolutely perfect! I could almost hear Meryl say, "Bella, darling... i love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Maybe she'll ask me to move in with her! I felt my heart leap as I imagined living with my true love at long last! I settled my self down, but I still couldn't apply my mascara without shaking.

Mum dropped me off right in front of the restaurant. I stepped in the door with my feathered peacock dress from Honduras. I worried that I had over dressed, but I the fact that Meryl might tell me she wanted to grow old together with me was a risk I wanted to take while wearing something classy. I would look back on the memories this dress held of a wonderful night! I shook myself back to reality,I was getting carried away...I gasped, there she was, sitting at a table for two in a sexy red attire. It was a shock every time I saw this woman, for she was the apple of my eye. I eagerly slipped into the seat across from her. "Sweetheart!" I said with a excited voice. She said nothing. She just looked at me with worried eyes. The waiter came and asked us if he could start us off with some drinks. I asked for a diet coke, and Meryl asked for vodka. Surprised at her choice, I knew something was definitely up. We sat in pure silence as the waiter brought our drinks. Meryl immediately took a large gulp of her vodka. I was beginning to worry. Finally, she swallowed, set her glass down, and broke the silence and said, "Don and I... Don and I are divorced." My eyes widened in addition to my jaw dropping. "Divorced!???....what- honey...you've been together for thirty-one years, what happend?" "I've been in court fighting Don for months now. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to stress you and I was afraid you'd get involved, it was between me and Don, but it's over now." She kept a straight face, but was holding back. She took another sip of her drink while I watched her, I was trying to comprehend this. I was confused, if she divorced the man that was keeping us apart, why so serious? I hesitated, "Um...hun....why aren't you, well..happy about this? I mean, we're finally free!" Meryl looked up from her cranberry napkin that she was fiddling with "Well," she sighed, "Another thing I didn't inform you of was....that... Don was abusing me, and, after the judge announced our divorce, he was sent to prison." I reached across the table and placed my hand on top of her cold, frail hand. "I fear we aren't... safe, Bella." My arm grew tense. The thought of Don harming my Meryl, and worrying her of her own safety angered me. A tear eased its way down Meryl's cheek. The waiter came over to our table and asked if we knew what we would like to order. I shook my head and told him the check was all we would need.

I took Meryl back to her apartment. Holding my hand, she lead me to her bedroom. She turned on the lights as we stepped in her room. There was a queen sized bed with a chocolate brown comforter and golden pillows, two bedside antique night stands with lit cinnamon spice candles on each, and big dresser on the opposite side of the room with a shinny finish and black knobs. Meryl's eyes were still a bit wet with tears of despair, but she managed to wipe them away for me. She sat me on the bed, with her next to me. Uncomfortable with all the silence, I said, "Darling, there is something important I must tell you too. The truth is, sweetheart,..." I looked deep into her blue eyes, "I love you." She put her hand on her heart. "and, i want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't want to leave you alone for one minute knowing that Don might harm you! I've been wanting to tell you this for so long..so, so, so long! After I saved you for that first time, I just wanted to save you from every evil thing darling, because the smile on your face means the whole world to me, and I would do anything to see that smile again right now, ...so please, sweetheart, ...smile for me...once more my sweet, and I promise you everything will be alright. We can get through this. It's you and me...together...forever..." Now Meryl's tears came down like falling stars as she pulled me in to hug me, she held on with all her might, she whispered softly into my ear, "I've always loved you, Bella." She then turned my head so I was looking straight into her eyes, which mum says are the windows to the soul, she slowly pulled me in closer as she closed her eyes, I leaned in too, I knew what was happening. We were moments away from sharing our first kiss. I felt a fiery passion blazing through my whole body as her velvet soft lips pressed against mine, I sensed her tongue wanted to get through my lips as she opened her mouth. Unsure, and unexperienced,I slightly opened my mouth as well, then, in an instant i felt a slippery muscle wrap around my tongue. She then laid me back onto the bed. We rolled around, her legs wrapped against mine. She paused for a minute, got up, turned the lights off, and resumed in her previous position, but this time, topless. I could tell the alcohol was getting to her, but I didn't mind, she sure knew how to get me started.

We were completely stripped of our garments, and it started to get very hot, very fast. Now, I meant sexy hot, but what I didn't realize was it would soon get temperature hot as well. I was really getting into it. I loved Meryl so much, and now I could show my woman how much I did by satisfying her, but my bliss was soon about to end in a hurry. There was a great bang at the door, and before we knew it, someone came crashing in. BOOM, THUMP, SMASH Meryl and I jumped as we flew off of each other. Meryl gasped, shocked at the sight before her...
There, standing before us was none other than Don, Meryl grabbed the sheets to hide her exposed body. I could see Don's face get more red as he looked right at me. My stomach nearly jumped out of my throat. "Don? what the hell are you-?!" Meryl started, tears of fear pouring down her face. "NO! SHUT UP AND COME HERE!" Don shouted as he approached Meryl. I jumped out of bed and scrambled for my dressing gown before trying to pull her away from Don, who now has a hold on Meryl's arm and is getting more aggressive. I scream at the top of my voice "NO!! I love Meryl more than anything!-More than you ever could you barstad! YOU GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!!!" I jumped on his back, in an attempt to help Meryl escape his vulture-claw-like grip on her, but he pushed me to the ground, and began tugging on Meryl with all his might, heading for the door as she sobbed and fought for her freedom.
The force of my fall knocked a candle off one of the night stands and the carpet immediately caught on fire. Don froze up in fright still holding Meryl very tightly. As I watched the flames advance on everything to relieve their hunger all I could see was smoke, my whole view was smoke. I paniced as I screamed for Meryl but I couldn't hear her, I started coughing non-stop. With my last bit of strength I call out my love's name for the last time, with a raspy voice I accomplish a scream, "Meryl!...My darling?!...." With my last bit of strength drained, I slipped in to unconciousness under the thick blanket of black smoke which was suffercating me.