As if on cue, Cherys looked up at me, her eyes a stormy violet that peered through the thin, black veil of her bangs, hanging in her face.

“What should I do?"

It hurt, but it was the right thing to do.

“Go to her. You belong with her, Cherys."

Her voice cracked, “What about us?" There was a deep longing in her voice, deeper than just the love we shared. If she gave me up, she would be giving up her dreams of an ideal family.

“I'UL always be there to take care of you and our baby. I promised, and I love you." I closed my eyes, fighting back my own tears. Cherys could still have the children and the picket fence, but there would be no husband. There would be no wedding. There would be no Cherys and David. Very soon, I would be alone once again.

Suddenly, she was beside me, holding my head in her hands.

“Oh, no," I pleaded. My emotions were too fragile right now, my sanity hanging by a thread, But Cherys didn't stop, she tilted my head back and our mouths met in a kiss of passion and fire and all the beautiful things that we could have been but would never be.

And just as soon as it started, it was over. Cherys sniffled and then stood up, turning away and walking down the hall towards Danielle, and away from me. Our decisions had been made.

It seemed like I sat there for hours, oblivious to the world. We wouldn't ever be able to go back to the way things were, but the love Cherys, Danielle, and I shared would endure in some form or another. I still had my family, my friends, and my work. Life would go on. But for right now, I really just wanted to sit there and cry.

ALL around me were the shattered pieces of my heart, and with slow deep breaths, I reached around me and picked them back up. It would take time to piece them together again. It would take time before I was whole, But I didn't have any other choice but to try. After all, it wasn't the first time my heart had been broken.

And for a brief moment, I looked out the window to see the morning sunshine and white clouds amidst a clear blue sky. I wondered where Amber was right now.

But then I was back to my depression, focusing on the simple task of breathing. ‘Keep breathing,’ I told myself. ‘In... out... breathe... and your life will go on...'

It was in this state of mind that I awoke to hear the doorbell ringing. I closed my eyes and willed it to go away. But when the bell rang again, I let out a long sigh and like a zombie, rose and headed for the door. If nothing else, Cherys and Danielle were sure to have a very intense conversation and I didn't want them being disturbed.

I went to the peephole and looked out.

Oh, *HELL*.

What I saw threatened to shatter what little sanity I had left, fragile as it was. I really wasn't in any state to deal with this right now, and yet my body moved automatically to flip the lock and then pull down on the door handle.

As I swung the door open, I gazed down at the tall blonde, an exceedingly beautiful woman with sky blue eyes and a Barbie doll body. A hopeful smile crossed her face as she looked at me. I hadn't seen or heard from her in three years.

Amber took a deep breath and giggled with a nervous smile, “What the hell are YOU looking at?"

Resolution see

SPRING (May 2006)

“What the hell are YOU looking at?"

My eyebrows furrowed and I felt a massive headache coming on. I took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly, the seconds ticking by as the air whistled out between my lips. Sensing that her joking greeting had not gone over as planned, Amber fidgeted and bit her lower lip.

But even when I was done exhaling, I didn't answer. I didn't know what to say. I WAS, however, looking the hell at her. Three years had been very kind to Amber. She'd grown in maturity and poise without losing any of her youthful beauty. Her blue eyes were bright and sharp with intelligence. Her fine blonde hair was perfectly coiffed. She stood before me wearing a long-sleeved, ribbed V-neck sweater and tight designer jeans over black heels. The sleeves highlighted her long, slender arms. The V-neck showed off her wonderfully enticing cleavage. And then hem of the sweater was short enough to reveal a wide expanse of creamy skin, with a toned belly that would be the envy of any teenager. I saw the hint of a thong peeking above the waist of her jeans, stirring up old memories. I let my eyes drop down and truly take her in, and for a moment, she posed prettily for my viewing pleasure.

Amber was gorgeous. Three years without seeing her had altered my memories until I'd transformed her physical appearance into that of an angel descended from the heavens. The reality of her actual beauty was no disappointment. I wanted to reach out, press my lips to hers, and never let go until we had ravished each other into exhaustion.