Michelle sat in the straight backed chair, her feet firmly planted on the floor. Her hands were folded in her lap. She stared at the man across from her. She hardly knew him anymore.
Still the same dark curly hair, those eyes that made her melt. Now those eyes were cold. He did not speak. He just stared back at her.
"Michelle, I think it is time you knew something about me. I want you to understand why this has to end."
Michelle felt the tears stinging her eyes. She could not bear to look at him anymore. She dropped her eyes and looked at her clenched hands. Please god she thought, don't let him continue.
Danny saw her body sag .. he knew the pain he was causing.
"Michelle, there is someone else in my life. She understands the business I am in, she knows everything about me"
Michelle wondered why she felt nothing at this moment. Maybe it was shock.
She wasn't sure if she even heard all the words that he had spoken. What happened to his awe of my soul.. she almost laughed out loud.. what was happening? What happened to all the tender words and touches? The things they had shared? Why had her tears suddenly stopped?
She felt as thought she should scream or shout obscenities at him. She could do nothing but continue to stare at her clenched hands.
"Well, go ahead.. say what you want to say Michelle" Danny continued
Michelle lifted her head and the look in her eyes must have startled Danny because he visibly shrank back in the chair.
From Danny's point of view he saw only the hatred in her eyes. They were black with rage.
"Danny, you are a fool. Why are you telling me about someone else in your life? Do you think I care who is in your life?"
Her palms were bleeding now, her nails dug a half moon wounds in them. She hardly noticed it and then looked down and saw the blood on her skirt.
"Michelle, I know you are hurt.. but these things happen. I have known for a long time that you did not really understand everything about me. It has been five years and I thought maybe .. just maybe you would come to accept me.. but you never did. Danny Santos never really met your expectations, did he?"
Michelle wanted to scream.. what expectations.. I only wanted you.. I had no expectation other than you loving me..
Instead she stared back at him, wishing he was dead at this moment. After all she was.. wouldn't it be appropriate for him to fall over dead too.. she almost laughed again.. maybe she was going insane.. that's it she could kill him and plead insanity. Maybe she had been insane for five years. She felt as though someone had pulled her heart from her chest and left a gaping wound for everyone to see.
He stared at her again with a strange look on his face. He had a small smile starting and he suppressed it.
However, not before Michelle made note of it.
Now she was furious. How dare he laugh at her.. how dare he.
"Michelle, this woman is not from Springfield. She is from Chicago. I knew her a long time ago. She knows my mother and is acquainted with ,.." he cleared his throat... "with our business"
Michelle stood up and declared that this talk was over, she was not interested in talking about "this woman"
Michelle stormed out of the room and went to their bedroom.
Danny's robe was lying on the chair.. she picked it up and brought it to her face. She could smell his after shave... his body ..the tears were streaming down her face.
She threw down the robe and went to the bedroom door. She locked it. He would not see her like this.
Now and only now did she allow herself the comfort of crying.
After an hour she went to the master bath and climbed into a hot bath. She could see through the skylight above the stars in the sky. She kept heating the tub until the water felt almost scalding. She lay there trying not to think.. not to feel. Please God, I don't want to feel anything anymore.
There was a pounding on the door and she heard Danny shout.. "Michelle, stop acting like a child and open this door"
Something made her get out of the tub, she felt as though she was in a trance and her master's voice was calling. "I am going insane she thought.. that has to be it.. all of this is some delusion and I never heard him say those words.. no , he never told me that it was over.. no , he never told me there was someone else"
She opened the door and stood there dripping wet. She forgot to put on a robe.
Danny stared at her, still his eyes were cold.. she saw nothing there.
"Michelle, put this on " Danny said as he handed her the robe.
She dutifully put it on and walked to the bed.
Danny followed her.
"Danny, did I hear you correctly...did you say it was over and you had someone else?" Michelle whispered hoarsely
"Yes, Michelle.. you know that is what I said"
"Oh.. I thought I had dreamed it.. A dream come true."
She opened the nightstand drawer.
Danny started toward her and she turned with the gun in her hand.
She shot him twice in the chest.
Michelle dropped the gun to the floor. She stood there for what seemed like hours just staring at his body.
"Now, you are dead too Danny"
