Status: Complete

The Beast and The Harlot = ?

Part 59

Its been a week.

A week since the fight at the bar.

A week since I've been to work.

A week since I've seen the guys.

They were being stubborn.

Probably trying to see how far they could push themselves before they caved and came to see
me.

I know the girls wont stand for it much longer. They're trying to be supportive.

But they love me too.

I walked through the kitchen, humming to myself as I waited for Brian to come back from the
store.

I was shuffling through the mail when I came to a big pink envelope.

It was addressed to me but had no other information on it.

I looked at it for a second and remembered that this was the letter I had gotten a few weeks
ago.

I had never gotten around to opening it.

I looked at it again and grabbed it, going to sit at the table.

I ripped the letter open and looked at the small and neat handwriting on the page.

I didn't recognize, so I sat back and started reading it.

"Dear Cynthia. I know you probably have no idea who this is. I guess that's a good thing. You
probably would have ripped it up by now because I know you hate me. I wont deny it and I don't
expect anything less. I hate myself for what I've done to you. I never before, stopped to think
about how my actions would affect you. If it would cause you pain, make you cry. It never fazed
me. I always thought my ill feeling toward you was hate. Pure and simple hate. Now that I think
back on it. I know what it is. I was jealous. Jealous that you had perfect friends that love and
care about you. That you had a boyfriend that all girls wanted but he chose you. I was just
jealous. So I tried to get back at you. I'd flirt with Brian. Sleep with him behind your back.
Anything to make myself feel better. But now look at me. I'm alone. My sister wont talk to me,
my parents and brother are ashamed of me. I have nothing. I did it all for nothing. Cynthia, if
you're still reading, I want you to know that I am so sorry. From the deepest parts of my heart I
send my apologies. I know it doesn't mean much at all, cause I've given you no reason to trust
me. But I want you to understand, that if I could, I would take back every wrong thing I've ever
done to you. I am so sorry. I know it wont happen anytime soon. But I hope you can find it in
your heart to someday forgive me. I'm so sorry for everything, and I wish you and Brian all the
happiness in the world, you deserve it.

Sincerely,

Michelle."

I stared down at the letter, my hands shaking slightly. I had no idea what to think of this.

It was so unexpected.

I never took Michelle as the sentimental type.

It seems like she's really been suffering.

In a way, I feel bad for her.

Her sister wont talk to her, her parents probably don't look at her the same.

She doesn't have any friends that I know of.

She really is all alone.

My heart goes out to the pain she's feeling

right now.

The pain she's been feeling.

This letter is weeks old.

I looked down at the letter and tried to count how many times she said she was sorry.

The letter was smudged in some places, looking like water ran on it.

Or tears.

I looked down at the letter and then grabbed my phone, calling a number I never thought I
would call.

"Michelle? We need to talk." I said.

She agreed and fifteen minutes later, we're sitting across from each other.

I was looking at Michelle, or at least trying to.

She was looking down so I couldn't see her face properly.

"How have you been Michelle?" I asked softly.

"Miserable. I can't eat, sleep. I miss my family but I can't bear to feel their disappointed and
disgusted looks on me. But I don't want to complain. You went through so much more. And it
was because of me. I'm so sorry, Cynthia. There aren't enough words to express how sorry I am." Michelle said.

I looked at her as she stared at her hands in her lap.

"Michelle. Look at me please." I said.

She slowly looked up at me and I held her gaze.

"I'm not angry anymore. I've had time to get over the past. And I'm not dwelling on it anymore.
And neither should you." I said.

"How can you be so forgiving? I hurt you. I betrayed you even when there was no trust to begin
with. How can you say you forgive me?" She cried.

She held her face in her hands and cried.

I slowly stood up and went over to her.

"Michelle? I wouldn't say I forgive yiu unless I meant it. I'm not mad anymore. It happened and
we dealt with it. All of us suffered in this situation. The only difference is, you're still punishing
yourself for it. You need to let it go and accept the forgiveness I'm offering you." I said.

Michelle looked up at me with an amazed look on her face.

"If I could take it back, I would. I swear I would." Michelle said in a pleading voice.

"I know you would. I wouldn't though." I said.

Now she looked confused.

"Why? All the pain you went through? It would've been easier without it." Michelle said.

"It would defintitely have been easier. But in a weird way, you helped my relationship. There was
something very wrong with mine and Brian's relationship. And I don't think it would've changed
unless you did what you did. So I guess, I should be saying thank you." I murmured.

"Please don't. It would make me feel horrible. Even if you feel like I helped you. I don't see it that
way. So, please." Michelle begged, on the verge of tears.

"Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset." I said.

"Oh, you are making it so hard not to like you. Your so nice, even to people who dont deserve
it." Michelle grumbled.

"You do deserve it Michelle. Your sorry, and you apologized. That means your feel bad about
what you did and your trying to make it right. If anyone deserves niceness right now, its you." I said.

"I'm positive no one else will see it that way." She said.

"Well then, we'll help them see it that way. You're not alone Michelle. I'm here with you." I said,

grabbing her hand.

She smiled and squeezed my hand tightly.

"Thank you." She whispered.

I nodded with a smile.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Brian said menacingly from the doorway.

I jumped in shock cause i didn't even hear him come in.

"Brian! You scared me. I didn't hear you come in." I said with a smile.

I stood up and went over to him.

"Look, we have company." I said, pointing to Michelle.

Michelle looked scared and had now stood up to stand on the opposite side of the table, farther
away from Brian.

Brian pulled me behind him.

"I can see that. What the fuck are you doing in my house, Michelle. Dis you forget our
conversation?" He asked in a hard voice.

Michelle flinched as Brian inched closer.

"Brian! Knock it off!" I yelled.

I went to stand next to Michelle and put my arm around her quivering body.

"She came to apologize." I explained.

"Its too late for apologies." Brian said.

I stood in front of Michelle.

"Oh really? If its too late for her apologies, then its way to late for yours. If she goes, so do you."
I said.

Brian looked at me wide eyed.

"No, Cynthia, its fine. I'll go." Michelle said from behind me.

"No. You're staying. I told you we'd make them understand, so we are. Brian sit down." I said in

a commanding voice.

I wasn't used to being in control, so I felt really powerful.

Brian scowled but sat down and I sat Michelle across from him.

"Michelle, can he read the letter?" I asked, wanting her permission.

She nodded slowly after a moment.

I handed it to Brian.

He took it and read it, his face twitching at moments.

He threw the letter on the table when he was done.

"Words. They're only words, Cynthia." Brian said.

"Brian Elwin. If anyone should know the power words have, its you. That's how you kept me
here. I'm not saying you two have to be best friends. But we need to move past this. Michelle
needs he sister, just like Val needs her even if she's too stubborn to admit it. I've moves passed
this, now the rest of us do. We're family." I said

Brian looked down.

"I don't like this." He muttered.

"Well you better get used to it, cause nothing you say is going to change my mind." I said
stubbornly.

"Since when do you call the shots?" Brian asked, standing up and leaning over the table.

"Since right now." I said, enunciating each word and mocking his actions.

We both stared each other down for a minute.

"If I didn't fucking love you so much I'd tell you to screw off." Brian said, he leaned forward quickly and kissed me.

"Fine, lets do it." Brian said.

I smiled and went around the table, hugging him tightly.

When we pulled apart I motioned towards Michelle who was looking down at the table again.

Brian shook his head again and I pushed him.

He stood in front of Michelle and opened his arms.

"Truce?" He asked softly.

Michelle looked up and slowly nodded, standing up.

She hugged Brian and he apologized for everything.

He really is a big softy.

He just tries to act bad ass.

"Alright. Can you call the guys over?" Brian asked after he pulled away from Michelle.

I nodded.

This was going to be even harder.