Thank you for the wonderful time that you have given me, it pains me to think that I may not be able to remember any of this or even you when I wake up the next time.  For this reason, I want to spare you all the future pain by leaving now.  I hope you can understand and forgive me someday.

I love you always.

Carmen

“No, Carmen!”  Shane cried out her name one last time and crumpled into the floor. 

##################

It’s been a month since Carmen left her abruptly.  Shane had been waiting outside Carmen’s house whenever she had time.  Waiting for Ray or Carmen to come out from their home was the only way she could think of, since neither of them was answering her calls.  So far, her effort has been fruitless, she decided to try her luck at the night club tonight. 

Shane asked the bouncers if Ray had been there, they all shook their head.  It was like they disappeared from the face of this planet.   She didn’t trust the bouncers and decided to wait outside for awhile. 

At around 3am, a black Mercedes turned up.  Shane’s instinct told her that it was Ray.  He climbed out of the car and walked towards the entrance.  Seeing this was her only chance, she stopped his tracks.  The bouncers were ready to pull her away when Ray stopped them.

“Let her go.”  Ray ordered the bouncers.

“Ray, please I just want to talk to you!”  Shane pleaded.

“I was going to pay you a visit later.  It’s good that you are here now.  Come in, let’s go into my office.”  Ray invited her to his office and offered her a drink.

“No thanks.  I just want to see Carmen.  Where is she?” Shane demanded.

“The operation was successful, the tumour has been removed. She is recuperating from her operation at the moment.  I have strict instructions from her before the operation that if things didn’t go well, then you are not to her again.”  Ray said sadly.

“Please you don’t understand.  I love her and she loves me too! Please let me see her.”

“I am really sorry, I don’t know how to put this nicely.  So I am just going to say this directly. But she doesn’t remember you, she doesn’t seem to remember anything over the last two years or so.  The doctors do not know if it’s permanent or not.  Carmen knew this could happen and told me not to let you see her.  She doesn’t want to see how hurt you will be when she looks at you like a complete stranger.  It’s her wish for you to move on and be happy and forget her.”

“You can’t do this to me. She can’t do this to me!”  Shane’s whole body was trembling.

“I know, but she is my sister I just want her to be happy too.  At the moment, she should be concentrating on recovering.  I don’t want you to complicate her life right now.”

“Can I at least see her?  She doesn’t need to know.”  Shane’s voice was cracking up.

“I’m really sorry.  I’m sorry that it turned out this way. I really am.”  Ray shook his head regrettably and took out a brown envelope from his drawer.

“I know this probably don’t mean much to you now, but I want you to keep it.  You have earned this fair and square.  Have a drink on me tonight, everything is on the house.”  He put the envelope inside Shane’s pocket.

“Ah, I nearly forgot, Carmen asked me to pass this to you just before her operation.”  Ray handed her a velvet box. 

Shane opened the box with her shaking hands only to discover that it was her mother’s ring that Carmen ‘robbed’ from her the night they met.  Her visions were blurred by her tears and all she wanted was to have Carmen back, to hold her close in her arms and tell her that everything will be fine.  Ray left the room quietly to let her come to terms with it.   

Shane got very drunk that night and all she could think of was Carmen.  She went back to the only person who she trusted – Cecil.

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

to be concluded….