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On the night of that same day, Bill went out to a dinner business meeting for Lewis Oil. Danny and I had reached an agreement, reluctantly on my part, that I would deliver a note to Michelle telling her to meet him in the garden. At the appointed time, I went to her room. She was lying on the daybed, with a book propped up against her swollen belly. Her appearance had been greatly altered by her illness. Gone was the spark and fire in her eyes; it was replaced by a melancholy softness. She wore her hair curly and loose, and her pale skin glowed with an ethereal quality. That night she was dressed in a long white silk robe that flowed around her body in caressing folds. She looked up when I entered and smiled sweetly.
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"Maria, I'm so glad to see you," she said. "I feel like I have been alone up here for an eternity."
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I drew in a deep breath, hating myself for what I was about to do. Finally I blurted out; "I have a note for you Michelle." I took the note from my pocket and placed it in her outstretched hand.
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Michelle opened the folded paper, and her eyes grew wide when she realized the author. "Danny! He's waiting for me!" she exclaimed. Then she leaped from the daybed and ran downstairs. I followed behind to take my post guarding them against Bill's intrusion.
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Danny ran to Michelle as she flung open the back door, and swept her up in his arms. Their lips met, without speaking a word. Danny cupped Michelle's face in his hands as she ran her fingers through his dark curls. I have never in my life seen a kiss like that, not before that night and not since. I thought for a moment they would meld together, and combine into one great passionate being.
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Then Danny broke their embrace, and looked into Michelle's eyes, not taking his hands from her face. I knew then that he saw what we had all observed; that there was no chance for her full recovery, she was fated surely to die. He sat her down on the bench, and knelt down at her feet.
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"Oh Michelle! Oh my life!" he whispered, his eyes filled with agony. "How can I bear to loose you."
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"What now?" asked Michelle as she leaned back frowning. "You and Bill have broken my heart, Danny! Yet, you come to me with this great sadness, as if you are the one's to be pitied. I will not pity you! You have killed me--and thrive on it, I think. How strong you are! How many years do you plan to live when I am gone?"
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Danny tried to rise, but she grabbed his hair and pushed him back down.
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"I wish I could hold you until we are both dead!" she continued bitterly. "I don't care how much you suffer Danny! Why shouldn't you suffer? I do! Will you forget me? When I have been in my grave for twenty years, will you say there lies Michelle Bauer, I loved her once, but that was long ago. I have loved many others since then. My children are dearer to me than she was, and when I die, I will not rejoice that I am going to her; I will be sorry that I will leave them behind. Will you say that Danny?"
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"Don't torture me until I am as crazy as you are Michelle!" Danny shouted, and he wrenched his head from her grasp. As he rose to his feet, I noticed she still held a lock of his hair in her hand, and her arms, where he had been clutching them so tightly, were marked with purple impressions of his fingers.
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"I think you must be possessed by a demon!" he continued. "To talk in that manner when you are dying! How could you believe that I would forget you? Do you know how your words will haunt me, eating into my soul after you are gone? Is it not sufficient for you that while you rest in eternal peace, I will be in hell?"
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"I will not be at peace!" Michelle cried, and clutched her chest, drawing in ragged breaths. Finally she recovered enough to continue, speaking more kindly this time. "I am not wishing you more pain than I have, Danny. I only wish us to be together forever. Come and kneel down here again."
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Danny started toward her, but stopped himself, and turned away.
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"You see!" Michelle screamed. You are not my Danny! I will love mine yet, and take him with me; he is in my soul! I am tired of being enclosed in this shattered prison. I long to escape to that glorious world. You are sorry for me! Very soon, I will be sorry for you! Please don't turn your back on me now Danny! Come to me!"
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In her eagerness she rose from the bench and started toward him. He turned to her, his eyes wet with tears. How they met I hardy saw, but Michelle made a spring, and he caught her. They were locked in an embrace from which I thought Michelle would never be released alive. Her body went limp, and I ran to them to see if she had fainted. Danny held her away from me jealously, with a savage look in his eyes. I did not feel as if I was in the company of a creature of my own species. Finally, I saw Michelle stir, and I breathed a sigh of relief. She reached her hand up, and caressed his face.
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Danny showered her with kisses and exclaimed wildly, "Why do you hate me Michelle? Why did you betray your own heart? I have no words of comfort for you. You deserve this. You have killed yourself! You loved me and had no right to leave me! Nothing God or Satan could do would have parted us! You, of you own free will, did it! I have not broken your heart--you have broken it, and in the process, you have broken mine. So much the worse for me that I am healthy. Do I want to live? What kind of living will it be when you--Oh God! Would you like to live with your soul in the grave?"
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"Leave me alone!" Michelle sobbed. "I have done wrong, I'm dying for it, and that is enough! You left me too, but I forgive you. Forgive me!"
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"Kiss me again, and don't let me see your eyes, he answered. "I forgive what you have done to me. I love my murderer--but yours! How can I?" They were silent--their faces hid against each other, and washed by each other's tears.
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Suddenly, I heard Bill's car pull into the driveway. I shouted in a panic, "He's home! Hurry before he catches you."
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Danny muttered a curse, then said aloud, "I have to go Michelle, but I will not go far. I will see you again before you go to sleep."
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"No! I won't let you go Danny!" Michelle cried as she clutched his arms.
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"Just for one hour."
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"No! Not for a minute!"
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"Please! Bill will be out here looking for you any minute," he tried to pry her fingers from his arms, but she held fast.
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"No!" she shrieked. "It is the last time! Please Danny! I will die!"
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"Damn! There he is!" Danny cried. He stroked Michelle's cheek and whispered, "Hush Michelle. Hush baby. I'll stay. If he kills me, at least I will die with a blessing on my lips."
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He bent down and kissed Michelle again. I could hear Bill enter the kitchen, and a cold sweat ran from my forehead. I cried out to them one last time, and Bill ran to the back door. I was almost relived to see Michelle go limp in Danny's arms. I thought maybe she had fainted, and would be spared the battle I knew was coming.
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Bill lunged at Danny, his eyes filled with loathing. I don't know what he was going to do, because Danny stopped him by putting Michelle's lifeless form into his arms.
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"Look!" Danny shouted. "Unless you are a monster, take care of her first, and then deal with me."
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"Oh my God!" Bill cried as he looked at his wife's listless body. "Maria! Call 911!"
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