Chapter 8: Don't Say Never
Chapter 8:
Sheridan drove rather slowly down the streets of Harmony, because even though she needed to see Luis, she was certain he didn’t want to see her. If only she could put together the pieces of that night together. Too much of it was blurred and Hank wasn’t creditable. He swore they had shared a night of passion, but in her heart she knew she could never have slept with Hank no matter how lonely she felt. Despite the obstacles Luis and Sheridan had faced together, it just made their marriage stronger, and she prayed that this challenge could be overcome as well.
*Flashback*
Sheridan had just finished getting ready when the doorbell rang. It must be Hank she said. She wasn’t at all excited about her get together with Hank. She wished it were Luis that she was going out to dinner with. But Luis was busy working hard at the Police Station. Despite what they both though, his new promotion had put a strain on the marriage and things were becoming routine. They no longer had breakfast in bed together or walks on the beach and it seemed they were drifting apart.
She ran down the stairs and headed towards the front door. She checked through the peephole and saw Hank standing on the other side of the door grinning from ear to ear. Sheridan forced a smile and then grabbed her purse. She didn’t feel like going out when she felt like this, but perhaps a change of pace would do her good. Hank waited until she was outside to make his move. He placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her to his car. Sheridan felt uncomfortable and moved slowly away from him.
*End of Flashback*
As Sheridan approached Luis’ apartment building she prayed he would just listen to her. They needed to communicate and clear the air, once and for all. Sheridan found a parking space and parked the car. She turned the engine of and removed the keys. Sheridan took a deep breath and prepared herself for the moments that lay ahead. This wasn’t going to be easy, facing Luis when he harbored such animosity towards her. But she had to talk to him and make him realize that she had never meant to hurt Luis.
As she approached the elevators she tried to hold back her tears. How did this mess get started? If she hadn’t gone out to dinner with Hank this…She stopped herself at the point. She couldn’t keep doing this. She knew she couldn’t change the past, she could only rectify the present and hopefully still have a future with Luis. The elevator doors opened and Sheridan stepped inside. She pressed the button marked “12” and awaited for the doors to close.
When she reached the twelfth floor she walked slowly to Luis’ door. After what seemed like hours she had approached her objective. She knocked softly on the door and anticipated that Luis would be on the other side of the door. He flung the door opened and stood in shock to see Sheridan almost in tears in front of him.
“What are you doing here Sheridan?” he asked trying to keep his voice from escalating louder.
“We need to talk…Luis” she said shaking. “I needed to see you, to explain what happened.” Sheridan’s eyes began to water and she couldn’t bear to look Luis directly in the face.
“I don’t need an explanation so please go Sheridan. Don’t make this harder than it already is” he said calmly despite what he felt inside.
Sheridan raised her head and looked Luis’ directly in the eyes. She was crying and the tears cascaded down her face. She didn’t bother to wipe away her tears, she merely spoke in a hushed voice.
“Luis, please all I ask is that you listen to me and when I am done, if you still feel nothing more than hostility and anger towards me I will walk away and you will never have to see me again.” She said with a hint of regret in her voice.
“All right Sheridan, but I don’t see how this…” before Luis could say another word, Sheridan collapsed in his arms. Her head fell back and Luis struggled to keep her steady. He gently lay her on the floor of his hallway and immediately checked for a pulse. He was relieved when he discovered she had a pulse – it was weak, but none the less she was alive. He began to shudder, what was happening to Sheridan.
“Sheridan please…talk to me…can you..hear…me” Luis said in a muffled voice, trying to fight back the tears. He couldn’t bare to see Sheridan like this, he still cared for her deeply despite her affair with Hank.
He gently picked up her hand and squeezed it. “Sheridan…you’re going to be okay.” He rushed to the phone in his living room and dialed 911.
Luis anxiously awaited for someone to pick up on the other end of the phone if Sheridan didn’t receive some medical attention soon, her condition might worsen. Luis tried to push those negative thoughts out of his mind. He had to concentrate on keeping Sheridan alive.
“Hello, 911 emergency, what is the problem?” the woman on the other end said calmly.”
“Yes, I need an ambulance right away at 134 Mills Rd, Apartment complex “Harmony Hills” apartment #1256.” Luis said quickly trying to say as much as he could to relay how serious Sheridan’s condition was.
“Slow down sir, what’s the problem?”
“My wife has collapsed and her pulse is weak, she needs to get to a hospital, now” Luis cried into the phone.
“Alright sir, an ambulance is on its way. The best thing you can do for your wife, is stay beside her and try….” Luis dropped the phone suddenly and rushed to Sheridan’s side. Tears trickled down Luis’ cheeks as he looked at Sheridan’s motionless body.
“I would never forgive myself, if something happened…to…you…Sher…” he said in a muffled voice.
“Please don’t leave me Sheridan, I…” Luis pulled Sheridan up and snuggled her into his chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as if she would disappear at any moment. He rocked her back and forth gently with a rather dazed expression on his face. The tears continued to flow down his cheeks and all that could be heard in his apartment was the quiet sobs and muffled words of a man holding the woman he still loved close to him and the faint sound of the phone’s dial tone beeping.
To Be Continued…
