Shane had reached for the remote, and went channel surfing.  This is ridiculous. I may as well take a nap since I can’t find anything worth watching.  However, just as she closed her eyes, there was a knock on the door.  Thinking it was Jenny, Bette, or probably Alice, Shane re-opened them only to be faced with a demon from her past. Immediately, her jaw went tight, and, if she could complete a full sentence, she would be quick to ask if someone could pinch her because this had to be a nightmare.

“Hi.  I, um…” Gabriel stumbled.  There was no easy way to start, and from what the nurse had explained, he knew it would be a mostly one-sided conversation.  “You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here.” He mumbled nervously.  He pulled a chair to edge of the bed, as Shane’s hands became clenched as fists at her sides. 

“Your roommate informed me of what happened. I’ve been calling and leaving you messages for a while now” he paused.  “Look, I know that you and Carmen didn’t get married and I wanted to…” what did he want to do?  Gabriel couldn’t apologize for being himself.  How did he know that Shane would back out like she did?  She had to understand that he was trying to make sure she was positive about marrying Carmen.  He could never be with one woman for too long and he didn’t know how anyone could.  In fact, discovering that Shane was gay was less surprising than discovering she was getting married.

“How did you even know I was in that bar that night?” he asked.  Shane started “Iiii, fol” and with a huff, she wrote I FOLLOWED YOU FROM YOUR ROOM.  Now it made sense to Gabriel and he then realized he should have been more careful. “Look Shane. I’m not here to apologize for my actions. But what I am here to do is to let you know that I’m sorry you found out like you did.  I was gonna come to the wedding, just not with my wife.”   WHY!  Shane wrote.  “I just wasn’t happy. I mean, I don’t expect you to understand.  All I know is, me and your stepmom had not been happy for a while, and I thought us coming to the wedding would help, but it didn’t.  Then when you saw me and that woman, I thought I was doing you a favor.” Gabriel said.

A FAVOR! YOU RUINED MY LIFE Shane wrote angrily.  “How did I ruin your life?  By showing you what married life can be like?  By being honest with you about how I’ve been all my life?!  I’m not about to change Shane and you may as well know that” he hollered.

Shane had taken about all that she could.  “Ggitt ouu!” she breathed heavy as the words, though not complete, came out almost crystal clear to her ears.  By now, he couldn’t deny the amount of anger in her eyes as she looked to this man whom she had reached out to.  Who she thought might actually be there for her and only proved what she knew all along – that she couldn’t depend on him. 

“Wait wait, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to upset you…” Gabriel said as reached for Shane’s hand. Shane withdrew her hand sharply as if she had been scalded by hot water.  Gabriel looked at her with pleading eyes, and hadn’t realized that someone was standing behind him. 

WHAM!  The pain was sharp and quick as Carmen backhanded the side of Gabriel’s face. “GET OUTTA HERE – NOW!” she yelled, not caring where they were or who heard.   With that, Gabriel began walking towards the door. “I’m not leaving this town until we finish our conversation.  I WILL be back” he groaned as he grabbed his cheek.  With one last glance to both Shane and Carmen, he left the room. Shane, who by now started feeling as if there was smoke coming from her ears, hurled the television remote at the door where Gabriel stood just a few seconds earlier.  It cracked in two as she yelled out “AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” with so much force that it startled Carmen as she watched Shane cover her face with her hands, and cry until her shoulders shook.

TBC