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We all watched young Marah's obsession with growing concern, with the exception of Danny, who seemed oblivious to everything but Michelle. I glanced out the kitchen window one morning and saw Danny and Michelle walking through the garden with Marah trailing behind, mercilessly tugging at the leash of the Pomeranian she had been given for Christmas. The poor little dog finally sat down on the ground and refused to move another inch. Marah gave the leash a sharp pull, and the dog wriggled his head out of its collar. He scampered through the garden as Marah gave chase, finally scooping him up in her arms. She gave the little dog a harsh squeeze when she realized she was alone, and he yelped struggling to break free again. Michelle and Danny had disappeared.
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Marah came back into the house, plopped down at the kitchen table, and crossed her arms over her chest. She scowled at me until I asked what the matter was, though I already knew the answer. "Michelle has taken Danny off somewhere, and she didn't even bother to wait for me," Marah fumed.
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"Well honey, they probably went down to the creek. I'm sure they are wondering what happened to you. Why don't you go down there and see if you can find them?" I replied.
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"To hell with them, and to hell with you Maria," Marah shouted. "I know exactly what they are doing down there, and it's not waiting for me!"
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I looked up in horror as I saw Bill standing in the kitchen doorway. Fury clouded his face. "I think I have had about enough of that son of a bitch chasing my wife around," he muttered through clenched teeth. "Maria, go down to the creek and get Michelle. Tell her I want to have a word her."
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I made my way to the creek slowly, dreading what I might find. Finally, I heard the gurgle of water, and saw the pair through the trees. Danny was holding Michelle's hand to his chest, and she was looking up at him with tears in her eyes. I inched closer, hiding myself behind a large tree.
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"I can't leave him Danny. I made a commitment to him, and I know he loves me. It would break his heart."
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Danny searched her eyes and said, "You made a commitment to me once too."
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"That was so long ago; things are different now, more complicated," Michelle sobbed.
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"You've made them complicated. You just could not accept me the way I was. You had to run off and marry Bill Lewis. Just because he was "acceptable" in your sweet little fairy tale world," Danny replied, his voice rising.
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Anger flashed in Michelle's eyes, and she wrenched her hand away from him. "You are the one who ran off Danny, and you are the one that couldn't accept youself! I went to your house looking for you, and you were gone. What was I going to do Danny? Sit around waiting for you for four years!" she shouted.
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"You had already decided to marry Bill before I left," he growled.
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"It's too late for us Danny. We had our chance and we blew it. Why can't you just accept that?"
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With that Michelle whirled around and ran past me toward the house.
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Danny sat down on the bank of the creek, and buried his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking with sobs. I left my hiding place, and sat down in the mud beside him. Finally, he looked up at me; tears stained his cheeks. "How much of that did you hear Maria?" he asked quietly.
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"Enough"
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"What am I going to do? I know she doesn't love Bill, at least not the way she loves me."
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"Sometimes things just were not meant to be. You can't cheat fate Danny," I replied. "You should leave Springfield, and get on with your life. You have caused so much disruption in this house, trying to break up Bill and Michelle, and with Marah mooning over you all the time. Things were so peaceful here before you returned. Please go. I'm afraid of what might happen if you don't."
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Danny got up from the bank, his eyes suddenly cold. "It is fate that has cheated me Maria! If Bill Lewis insists on keeping his hold on Michelle, I vow to take from him everything he holds dear! And I promise someday, somehow, I will have Michelle!" he shouted. And with that, he disappeared.
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