Since my release from jail for possession of cocaine, I've hit rock bottom in my life. Brian took me to court to get divorced and I messed up by leaving drugs in my purse. Since then I enrolled myself into rehab the day after the welcome home party and stayed in a recovery home not far from Huntington Beach. I dumped my loser boyfriend, who was also Brian's fiance's ex, disconnected each drug dealer I had as a contact, and stopped drinking completely. During my time in rehab, I even met a nice guy named Eric who was facing almost the exact same problems as me. When we weren't in rehab classes, he and I would talk and hang out with each other during the free time we have. He's definitely no Brian Haner Jr., but he was great enough for me. I really like this guy and I really hope there is some kind of future for us.
TWO AND A HALF MONTHS LATER, AND A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT-


"Ms. DiBenedetto. Good news, you are free to go home for the day." My doctor said with a large smile.

I smiled back at her. "Really? I thought I had to stay here the entire three month period?"

"You do." She said as she made her way into the kitchen to grab a drink from the fridge, tossing me back a diet coke. "But your family has been dying to see you, the owner is a friend of mine and owes me a favor. So consider yourself free for a day." She smiled at me.

"Wow. Thank you." I replied in shock.

"You're welcome. Now go, before I change my mind and ask him for a raise instead." She said sarcastically and cracked open the aluminum can and took a drink.



I sprinted up from the sofa and ran to my closet to pick out an outfit to wear for the day. So many clothes to choose from, so many styles, so little time. I decided to go casual for the day in light blue denium short overalls and a white waist high baby tee. With white sandals to finish it off, exposing my clear toe nail polish. My hair hung loose to the sides of my breasts, and my makeup done to a natural fade. My black aviators finished the entire look and I grabbed my doctor's car keys and made my way into Huntington Beach for the first time in almost three months. The scenery looked so different compared to the last time I was here, everyone seemed happier, brighter. The first place I wanted to go to was visit my sister. I haven't talked to her in a long time. As I cruised into the city and started the path to my sister's house, along the way I saw a familiar face stumbling outside of a small store, he looked as if he was being thrown out, Brian.

My face was in shock as to what I witnessing before my eyes Brian was drunk and bleeding on the ground.


I made my way to park near the store and ran to the aid of my former husband, who was sitting outside the store soaking in the sunlight. I kneeled down next to him and gently shook him awake. "Brian? Brian, you alright?"

He slowly moved his head towards me and opened his eyes. "M-Michelle? I heard you were in rehab." I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"I am. They just let me have one day of freedom. What are you doing drunk in the middle of the day getting kicked out of a..." I looked up at the store sign, which reads FLYING STORK in big yellow letters and 'the baby store' in smaller letters underneath. My mind quickly put the pieces together before Brian could even tell me. Emma was pregnant. "...A baby store." I responded in shock.

Brian looked up at the sign and sighed. "Yeah, my original plan was to buy Emma a whole set and surprise her with a nursery. She's four weeks pregnant and I will admit, I've been sort of an asshole to her since I found out. I figured this would show her that I'm sorry, but, the more I thought about it, the more I started drinking. Now look at me, drunk and kicked out of the most expensive baby store in the city. Pathetic."

I could tell deep inside of this drunk, past the alcohol, he was scared. Scared that he wasn't ready to be a father. I know this because he's reacted this way the past two times I had a pregnancy scare before we got married. Brian has always wanted kids, but he knew that I never really wanted kids and he eventually got used to the idea after the second scare. So he never really prepared himself for even the idea of one day becoming a father after that. Brian and I agreed to never have kids and because of that, I got my tubes tied, and now that I am getting closer to Eric, I'm starting to regret that decision. But then again, I never thought Brian would leave me, especially for someone younger.

The old me would've taken advantage of this Brian and convinced him to go with me to a hotel and screw me out of revenge to Emma, but since becoming sober and clean, I see things a lot differently. I know that Brian has a woman at home that he is in love with, and I know she loves him. I know I have hurt both of them in so many ways and I wanted to take this opportunity to make things right, by taking Brian back to their home and apologizing to her face to face. I had my opportunity to make things right with Brian at my welcome home party and we made peace, which is why I am so glad he went, even though he told me himself that he shouldn't, nor did he want to, be there. He also told me why he didn't bring Emma, and I understood. He only came to show Valary support because she wanted the entire band to be there. The excuse he made for Emma was perfectly clear on both ends.

I sighed at him in disappointment towards his actions and began to help him up. "Come on, get up."

He looked up at me in confusion. "Why?"

"I'm taking you back to your house. To Emma, where you belong." I said as I continued to help him up.

"I can take myself back." He said as he forced himself up and nearly fell after taking two steps away from me.

"Brian, you can't even walk right. Let me take you home." I said as I reached out to him, only for him to reject me.

"No, I don't need your help. I will take myself back." He said sternly as he continued to stumble a few more feet in front of him. I let him walk as far as he could until he stumbled to his knees and laid down on his back, sighing in defeat.

I walked over to him and looked down at his face as he stared back up at me. "Ready for me to take you home now?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

He sighed once more and nodded. "Sure.

---

Brian gave me the keys to his car and gave me turn by turn directions to his new home with his new wife-to-be, and also mother of his first child. Along the way, he told me about the problems he's had ever since she told him she was pregnant. He was scared, and it showed in all the wrong ways. He told me that he never cheated on her while he was out, even though he had more than enough opportunities to do so. He always felt guilty for the way he treated her and he never figured out a way to make up for all the pain he caused her. The thought of her leaving him with the baby, or even getting an abortion or miscarriage, only made things worse. I told him that if he kept this up then she was going to leave him. I asked him if she even knew that I was out this entire time, and he said no. There went my plan to make things right with her by bringing her drunk fiancé back home to her.

When we finally got back to the house, Brian instantly knew that she wasn't home, because his truck wasn't there. So I needed to act fast. I struggled to get Brian out of the car and led him into his own house. I slowly helped him upstairs and eventually got him in his room. By the time we reached his room, Brian was on the verge of passing out, and his dead weight started taking a toll. "Brian, stay awake. You're getting too heavy." He tried his best to stay awake, but his body eventually got too heavy for me to hold up, that it caused me to stumble and fall.

Brian fell on top of me and slowly regained conciousness. "I'm sorry Michelle." He said.

We both sort of chuckled as he adjusted to lift himself up, but then, we both heard the scream. "YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" Oh shit. We both looked up to see Emma in tears and running back down stairs.

Brian and I quickly got up and started running after her. "Emma! Sweetie! It's not what it looks like! I swear!" Brian yelled as he ran after her. We chased her outside for four blocks until Brian caught up to her near the beach. By the time I reached them, I could hear Emma yelling at Brian to not touch her. Brian tried explaining everything to Emma, but she wasn't having it.

I made my way over to them, and Emma stared at me with pure hatred in her eyes. "Emma. I promise you, nothing happened. I was just trying to bring Brian back home to y--". Before I could finish, Emma used all her might and slapped me hard across the face to where it made me fall to one knee. The slap stinged my entire face.

"Haven't you done enough damage already?! You fucking bitch!" With that, Emma started attacking me with punches and kicks with her heavy combat boots. Brian eventually got her off of me and moved her aside. I could see the hatred in her eyes move from me to Brian, after he begged her to stop. "You know what? I'm done."

"Baby, please." Brian pleaded.

"No. No, you obviously don't love me." She said breaking down into tears. "You never loved me. I was just a rebound from the start." She began removing what I assumed to be the engagement ring. Once she got it off, she threw it at Brian. "I'm so done with all of this. You want her back so bad, then take her! Because I don't want you anymore. I hate both of you! And I'm leaving tonight!" She said before giving me one last kick to the gut and running away from both of us, crying. Brian chased after her and I just stayed in position, aching too much to get up. Until I heard a familiar voice in the distance calling my name. It was Eric.


"Michelle! Oh my God, are you alright?" He said as he helped me up.

"I'm fine." I said as I adjusted myself and wiped the blood from my lower lip.

"Should I call the police?" He asked concerned.

I quickly shook my head. "No, that's not necessary. I deserved this from her." I then realized that he was out of rehab as well. "How did you get out?"

"The owner agreed to let me out, so I could spend time with you. But that's another subject. But what happened? Why do you feel you deserved that from her?"

I chuckled a little as I continued to dust myself off. "Eric, sweetheart. It's a long story.

Notes

Here's another update! I thought you guys deserved two chapters today... Tomorrow I'm writing the final chapter and then planning a sequel.

Song Credit Goes To Atreyu once again! c: