The next few days were spent avoiding Brian and Kevin. If Abby saw Brian, she would have to answer questions. If she saw Kevin, she would have to answer his questions. She didn’t feel like answering to anyone except for herself. Abby wasn’t trying to be mean, she just didn’t know what to say to Brian. She knew for a fact that she wouldn’t be able to look him in the eyes. Just one look and she would lose it. Lose everything. It wasn’t fair to leave Brian hanging out in the cold like that with no explanation, but it hurt. It hurt to even think about him.

Abby made a routine for herself to help get through the day. She went to work and pretended like everything was fine. She came home and pretended everything was fine and made Sasha screen her calls. She went to bed at night, exhausted and miserable and fell into a Brian filled sleep.

Every time Brian called, Sasha could hear a slight change in his voice each time. She wasn’t sure if it was anger or sadness or a mix of both, but she knew that whatever it was, wasn’t good. She contemplated just telling Brian that yes Abby was home, but she didn’t feel like talking and to just come over, but saying that would mean betraying her best friend. Sasha couldn’t bring herself to do that.

Finally after almost a week of being avoided, Brian showed up at Abby and Sasha’s house hell bent on finding out exactly what was going on.

Sasha was fixing hotdogs for herself and Abby when the knock came at the door. She wiped her hands on a dishtowel and went to answer the door. “Shit. I mean, hi. What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to Abby, and don’t even bother telling me that she’s not here because I saw her car out front. I’m not leaving here until I talk to her.”

“I uh… um… shit. Hold on.”

Sasha ran down the hall to Abby’s room, went inside, and closed the door behind her. “You are in trouble now.”

“Why?”

“Because Brian has his ass glued to the couch and he isn’t leaving until he talks to you.” Abby sighed and started massaging her temples with her fingers. “Abs, just talk to him. You can’t leave him hanging on forever. You know that he’ll give up if you keep blowing him off, right?”

“I know, I know, I know. What do I say to him though?”

“The truth maybe?”

“How do I say ‘you called out another woman’s name while we were having sex’ to him?”

“That’ll work.”

“Sasha.”

“I know, I’m sorry. Do you want me to send him back here?”

“I guess so.”

Sasha went back out into the living room and saw Brian sitting on the couch with his face buried in his hands. She flicked him on his head to get his attention. “Hey lover boy.” He looked up, annoyed. “She’s in her room. Oh! I think my weenies are boiling, excuse me.”

Brian stayed seated until Sasha disappeared into the kitchen then he got up and went down to Abby’s room. The door was slightly open so he brushed his knuckles against the wood before opening it further. Abby was sitting in the middle of her bed Indian style when she glanced up and saw Brian come in.

“Hey,” he said quietly, shutting the door behind him.

“Hey.”

“So… what have you been up to?”

“Work, nothing, just… nothing. What about you?”

“I’ve been trying to call you.”

“Oh, yeah?” Do not look into his eyes.

“Yeah. Seems like Sasha kept making up lies and saying you couldn't come to the phone. What's the deal? It just seems like you don't want to be with me anymore.”

“I didn’t know we were really ‘together.’”

Brian let out a deep sigh and under his breath, “Fuckin' a…” He stopped to lick his lips and walked around to face her. “Abby, no more games! What the hell is wrong? You spend one night with me after I confess how I feel for you, and the next day you ignore me! Now what the hell is up with that?”

That was it. Abby couldn’t hold it in anymore. She jumped up and off of the bed, standing in front of Brian. “Elizabeth! She’s the problem!”

“What?!?”

“I cannot compete with her memory, Brian. She may be gone physically, but she's more than alive in your mind and in your heart and in... in your bed.”

“What are you talking about? My bed?”

Abby sighed and sat down on the floor in front of the bed, the emotions starting to catch up with her, drinking up her strength. “You called me Elizabeth... you said her name when you were with me.”

Brian fell back against the wall, all color draining out of his face, “Oh my God...” He looked over at her and took deep breaths, “I... I had no idea. I'm sorry Abby, I really am. I never meant to hurt you and now that I have, I don't know what I can do to make it up to you. I... I love you.”

“But you still love her, too. She's everywhere, Brian. She's in your heart, she's in your head, she's all over your house. How am I supposed to compete with that? It feels like I'm doing nothing but replacing the physical void.”

“But you're not! Yes, I still love her, and she will always have a place in my heart but that was the past. She's no longer in my life, and I am still trying to accept that she's gone. It hurts, it really does but trust me... I have never thought of you as her nor will I ever. You are two different people...” Brian said, his voice trailing off as he watched the tears stream from Abby’s eyes.

She sniffed and wiped her face with her hands. “I don’t know what to do…” she whispered.

Brian crawled over to her and sat up on his knees. “Give me another chance.”

Abby finally let herself look into his eyes. She loved his eyes. She could see his sincerity, his love… everything. He was right. He really was irresistible when he begged. “One more chance, but that's it. Mess up, and I don't think that I would be able to take it any longer.”

Brian and Abby fell asleep in each other’s arms that night. Neither of them could bear to leave, so he stayed with her. They lay in her bed for the longest time, staring into each other’s eyes, saying sweet nothings to each other every now and then. After falling asleep, it didn’t seem like ten minutes had passed before Brian was awaken by someone patting his cheek and saying his name. He opened his eyes to a sight he thought he’d never see again.

“Liz?!” He sat up and rubbed his eyes, blinking a few times to make sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him.

“Yes, smart guy. It’s me.”

“What… what are you doing here?” he asked, glancing to his left where Abby was still asleep next to him.

“I came to talk to you. We have some business to take care of.”

“But I… you can’t… I must be losing my mind. This isn’t possible.”

“It’s very possible.”

“I can’t believe you’re here. I thought I’d never see you again.” Brian pulled her into a hug, happy to have her in his arms again. He had almost forgotten what it felt like to hold her. As they pulled away, Elizabeth’s hand connected with the back of his head and he winced. “Ow! What was that for?”

“For being an idiot!”

“What in the hell did I do? I’m gonna get brain damage if you people don’t stop slapping me in my head,” he said, rubbing the spot that she’d hit.

“Brian… I know that you loved me. I loved you too. We had something great, something special, and it was unfortunate that it had to end, but Brian look beside you. Look at her.”

He looked down at Abby’s still form then back up at Elizabeth. “I don’t get it.”

“What we had wasn’t forever. Your forever is lying next to you, and you almost let it get away. She loves you so much, and I know that you love her too, but you still have me as a wall separating the two of you. I don’t want to be there, Bri. I know how much pain and suffering you’ve gone through, but I’m here to tell you that it ends here, tonight. I don’t blame you for the accident. I never did.” She lifted her hand to Brian’s cheek and wiped the lone tear that was sliding down. “No more tears over me.”

“I love you Liz…”

“And I love you. Everything is going to be okay now. Goodbye Brian.”

“Bye Liz…” Brian said sadly, and her lips grazed his cheek as she faded away.

Brian’s eyes snapped open, and he quickly turned on the bedside lamp. It was all a dream. Just a dream… but it felt too real. Abby was still asleep in his arms, and his heart smiled looked at her. A huge weight had been lifted from him, and he knew that it was true. Everything would definitely be okay now. He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Abby’s cheek. “I love you…”