Despite the fact that her legs were numb from lying in the bed all day long, Anna felt remarkably well. She’d been in the hospital almost four months and she was feeling better everyday. Things were definitely looking up. Even those who said she wouldn’t make it were amazed at how far she’d come. They were even saying she could be out of here by next week.
            Oh God she hoped so.
            After months and months of going through harsh treatments, and all the pain in the major parts of her body, Anna was definitely ready to get rid of this disease and move on with her life. The disease was still unknown and no one knew what caused it, but Anna was sure that she wouldn’t be the only one who had it. She was sure that there were others around the world that had the exact same thing she has.
            She shut her eyes and thought of JC, bringing a smile to her otherwise dark features. The latest chemo had turned her face a very pale white. She knew he was still worried that he was going lose her, but she knew that she would do anything to make sure that didn’t happen; at least not for a long time. Through all their hardships together, it only made them both realize how much they loved each other. That, Anna knew, she would forever be grateful for. They both knew how lucky they were to have found each other.
            Anna had another reason to be up beat. She had gotten a visit from Elizabeth yesterday. Anna had been afraid for her friend when JC had told her that her and Justin had broken up. But when Elizabeth had walked into her hospital room, Anna swore that she’d never seen her best friend so happy before in her life. Then, of course, Elizabeth had explained what had happened out at Mark’s house. Anna truly now believed that miracles did happen.
            She had been angry at Justin at first when JC had told her what Justin had accused Elizabeth and JC of doing. She had been completely horrified and had been ready to give Justin a hard whack anywhere that she could reach. Even Justin admitted he would have deserved it, when he came in behind Elizabeth, their hands locked together.
            The nurse came in dragging Anna out of her thoughts. In the nurses’ hands were a bouquet of red roses, Anna’s favorite. “Your husband sent these over this morning,” the nurse said, and set them down on the bedside table. “He had to fly out to Japan this morning for a meeting. I believe there’s a note. He told me to tell you to read it later after you’ve rested.”
            Anna just shrugged her shoulders and opened the card anyway. “Don’t worry, he won’t find out,” she said when the nurse gave her a bland look. “As long as you don’t tell him,” she added with a grin. She hadn’t grinned in a long time; it was about time she started to act like herself again. She ran her hands lightly over the typed words on the blank piece of paper. Her heart almost broke apart at the words he had typed earlier this morning.

 
            Anna,

            This is so hard to say to you. Especially after all we’ve been through. I hope you know how much I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you that time in the rain. Do you remember that? You were wearing that stupid jacket that even now you keep hung up in our closet. I can still remember when you asked me if I was okay after you accidentally* bumped into me. It was fate, I know that now. It was fate for us to meet, and now it’s time to let go. This is probably coming as a big shock to you, and I’m sorry. The years we’ve had together have been the best of my life, but it’s time for me to move on. I’ve been thinking about it ever since you were brought to the hospital…But only now had it dawned on me that there have been too many bricks in the middle of our road to happiness. Justin wasn’t wrong when he said I was having an affair….
            I feel so guilty for hurting you, believe me. It’s okay if you never forgive me…believe me, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. Her name’s Amy…and we’ve been seeing each for a few months now…I can’t even believe I betrayed you like this. Guess I’m not the angel everyone thinks I am.
            Take the roses, just so you can always remember me. Remember that I love you, and remember all of those times we shared together. I want you to know that I’m never going to forget….I’ll always love you. Always and forever. I’m so sorry.

            Love, JC

 
            Now she knew why he hadn’t wanted her to read it till she’d rested. After reading the last of the note, she scrunched it up into a tiny ball and threw it across the room out of anger, not caring where it landed. This was worse than dieing…this was worse than anything she could imagine. JC was cheating on her…and had been since she’d been in the hospital. The nurse had left the room when she had seen the horrified look on Anna’s face when she began reading the note.
            She wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out. Did the other guys know about this? she wondered through her tears. Why was this happening to her? After all the years she had stood by him, why had he gone and done this? Did she not show him enough love? Of course not, that couldn’t be it. Wasn’t she attractive enough? No, that couldn’t be it. JC had always told her how beautiful she was. Was it that she was sick and he knew she was going to die? Bullseye. That had to be it, she thought. She reached over to the bedside table and grabbed a Kleenex and dried her eyes. What was she going to do now? Life now just didn’t feel worth living anymore.
            But she knew she had to fight. Her marriage was over. And when that dawned on her, she let the tears flow.

 
*A Few Days Later*

             Elizabeth was starting to get worried. She hadn’t heard from either JC or Anna in the last few days. It wasn’t like them at all. She knew that JC was with Justin and the rest of the guys in Japan discussing a problem with the upcoming album, but it wasn’t like Anna not to call. And it certainly wasn’t like JC not to call, either.
             What if something had gone wrong? Fear hit Elizabeth suddenly, forcing her to pick up the phone.
            “I’m just calling to check up on Anna Chasez,” she spoke into the phone.
            “She was released yesterday,” the nurse replied.
            Then where was she? “Did she say where she was going?” Elizabeth asked.
            “No ma’am. She left yesterday around noon. There was something that did concern a few nurses, though.”
            That caught her attention. Again fear welled up inside her. “What was that?” she asked, nervously.
            “She had tears in her eyes as she got onto the elevator,” the nurse replied. “Her husband sent her flowers and a card before he left town. We think it has something to do with whatever the note said. I hope it was nothing bad.”
            Oh God. What had JC said to cause Anna to cry? Anna hardly ever cried. “Thank you,” she said, then hung up. She had to hold onto the counter for balance. She picked up the phone again and tried Anna’s cell phone. No response. Elizabeth sighed, then dialed JC’s cell. JC, on the other hand, his phone was on, but he didn’t answer the phone.
             “Hello?” It was a girl on the other end, answering JC’s phone.
             “I’m sure I have the right number,” Elizabeth said, confused. Why was a girl answering his phone? Maybe it was just one of their dancers or something, Elizabeth tried to convince herself. “I’m looking for JC.”
             “You have the right number,” the girl replied impatiently. “Who are you?”
             “I’m Elizabeth, a friend of JC’s wife. I’ve been trying to contact both of them, but can’t find either of them. Is JC there by any chance?”
             “Wife?” The girl sounded surprised, then she let out a growl. “JC!!!!” she screamed, causing Elizabeth to jump. “Sorry. Just a second.” Then, a few seconds later, Elizabeth heard JC’s voice. “Hello?”
             “Where the hell have you been?” was her response.
             “Oh Elizabeth…” He was afraid she would call. Anna must have read the note, and had told Elizabeth about it. By the tone in Elizabeth’s voice, she was pissed. And she had every right, he thought. “Sorry, we’ve been really busy. What’s up?” he said as casually as possible.
             “You tell me. I phoned the hospital today and they told me that Anna was released yesterday. But I haven’t heard from her. And the nurse told me on the phone that on her way out, Anna was crying. Do you want to tell me why? Cause I know it had something to do with whatever you wrote in that note you sent her,” Elizabeth said. She prayed it was nothing bad.
             Things weren’t supposed to happen this way, JC thought. He knew Anna would cry, but he hadn’t known she would be released so soon. Oh well, it was now the moment of truth. “We’re getting a divorce,” he said quietly.
             “What??!” Elizabeth practically jumped at that bit of news. “Why the hell would you go and get a divorce?!”
             “Because…” JC didn’t quite have the courage to tell Elizabeth that he’d been cheating on her best friend. “I’ve found somebody new.”
             “What? Please tell me this is a joke.”
             “This is no joke, Lizzy.” He received a signal from Chris that he had to get off the phone and get back to work. “I’m sorry, I have to go. If you hear from Anna, please tell her she can contact me and we can work out the arrangements.”
             Elizabeth stood there in shock after she heard the dial tone, ending their conversation. She slammed the phone down with a bang. “That asshole…” She had to find Anna…and fast. She knew Anna, and knowing Anna, she would try something drastic that could mean life or death.