“Look, if you will allow me to explain, then I will be more than happy to leave.” Gabriel pleaded. Curiosity got the best of Carmen and she didn’t know why, but she relented anyway.  “Fine, you have 5 minutes, then I need to get back to Shane.”

“When Shane came to see me the week before the wedding, she had given me her cell phone and her number at home.  I had been calling her cell phone off and on for the past month, but she never returned my calls.  So I tried the home number just last week, and a guy answered – a Max I think he said.  Anyway, he explained to me about the accident. I figured since Shane wouldn’t talk to me over the phone, that I would fly out when I could. So here I am.  I’m not here to cause any trouble; I just needed to give Shane an explanation of what she saw the night you two were supposed to get married.  Carmen, I don’t know what to say but…”

“Just shut up!  I really don’t want to hear anything else that you have to say.  How dare you come here after all that you did? It was because of you that Shane left me. It was because you filled her head with that bull**** about like father like daughter!  What are you trying to prove by coming here anyway?” Carmen blasted.

Gabriel didn’t answer and instead looked down at his feet.  “You know what – forget it!  As far as I’m concerned, you are a coward.  And I will make sure you never hurt Shane again!  Why don’t you go back to where you came from?” And with that, she stormed off back towards the room where she knew Shane was waiting.

Gabriel looked at her as she walked away. He went to the waiting room and sat down. His mind began racing a mile a minute thinking of what he would say.  But he knew he wasn’t leaving until he faced Shane face to face.

“Hey” Carmen said timidly as she closed the door behind her.  Shane immediately brightened up and the worried frown disappeared.  She had already written on her mini board I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU.  Carmen sat in the seat next to the wheelchair.  “I’m sorry. I went to the bathroom and.. (She hesitated) well, I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I thought that because of me, you could have really hurt yourself and I would never have forgiven myself if I caused you harm” she explained.