�Me?� Melissa questioned her cousin.
�You are running scared.�
�I don�t know what you are talking about.�
�Mel, I don�t blame you.� Look what you have to endure, no one person should have to suffer so much loss and pain in such a short period of time.�
�So now you are trying to psychoanalyze me?�� Melissa asked standing up still facing her cousin.
�No, but look at your past.� First, Nick, the guy you loved your whole life, next, Bella, your daughter with Nick, and then your dad, your rock.� All of them either hurt you or left you or both.� No one would blame you for being scared to let anyone in.�
Melissa laughed.� �You think I�m scared to let Nick in?� You don�t know what you are talking about.�
Jenny stood up.� �I think I do or you wouldn�t be so hostile.�
�I�m not hostile; I just don�t like being judged.�
�I�m not doing that Mel, I�m trying to help you.� I want what is best for you and I thought that would be for you to stay away from Nick, but I was wrong.�
�So now you think I should be with him?�
�I�m not saying that, what I�m saying is I don�t want you to be afraid anymore.� I want you to be open and willing to take risks with your heart.�
Melissa turned to face the mirror, looking at her own reflection.� �I risked my heart and look where it got me.�
�You are only looking at the negatives from that risk, what about the positives?�� Jenny stood behind her; Melissa could see her in the mirror.
�What positives?�
�The years of love you had with Nick, the feeling of Bella growing in you, the memories you shared with your dad.�
Melissa bowed her head as she started to tear up.
�The bad thing about pain is it is all you can feel.� The hurt and sadness, it clouds your mind and your heart.� You don�t feel the love, the laughter, and the memories you once had.� Can you just let all of that go without a fight?�
Melissa looked away as tears rolled down her cheek.� Jenny realized she had finally reached her, but she knew it wasn�t enough.
�It is late and you had a rough day.� Go and get some rest.� I�ll talk to you tomorrow.�� Jenny touched her cousin�s shoulder and then left.
Melissa wiped away her tears and looked at herself in the mirror.� She was disgusted with herself and all of the drama.� Why couldn�t she just be happy?� Was that too much to ask for?� Didn�t she deserve to find happiness?
She grabbed the closest thing which was a light green candle and threw it at the vanity.� The glass shattered into million of pieces, leaving a ring from where the candle collided with the vanity.� Melissa looked at the broken mirror, still seeing her reflection, but now in pieces.� She collapsed to the floor in tears, realizing how messed up her life was and feeling helpless to fix it.
�I�ll get it Brian.�� Nick yelled as he approached the door.� �Jenny, what are you doing here?�
She passed Nick and entered the residence.� �Please come in.�� Nick stated sarcastically.
�We need to talk about Mel.�
�So you know about the arson?�� Nick replied as he closed the door.
�Yes, but that�s not what I meant.�
�Then what is it Jenny?�
�Do you love my cousin?�
�What are you up to?�
�Answer the question.�
�Jenny, I don�t see��
She interrupted him.� �Just answer, please.� Do you love my cousin?�
Nick sighed as he looked at her.� �Yes, more than anything.�
�Are you willing to sacrifice anything for her?�
�In a heartbeat.�
�Are you willing to fight for her?�
Nick looked at Jenny, wondering where this conservation was going.� Was she playing him?� Was she trying to find a way to hurt him, so he would stay away from Melissa?� However, she seemed genuinely serious and concerned.
�Till my last breath escapes my body.�
Jenny took a deep breath and knew what she was doing was for the best.� She couldn�t let her cousin drown in her own misery.� �I can help you with Mel.�
�Nick, who was at the door?�� Brian asked walking out of his bedroom.� �Jenny.�
�Hi Brian.�
Nick glanced over at Brian, giving him a look that told him that they needed to be alone.
�I�m going to head to bed.� Goodnight Jenny.�
�Night Brian.�� They waited till he closed his bedroom door.
�How are you going to help me?�
�Mel is hopelessly scared.�
�Scared of what?�� Nick walked over to his sofa and sat down.� Jenny quickly joined him.
�She is scared of letting anyone.�
�That doesn�t make sense, Jenny.�
�Think about it, Nick.� You, Bella, her dad.� What do you all have in common?�� She waited for him to answer.� Nick shook his head at lost with her question.
�In every situation, Melissa has lost someone.� Whether it was from heartbreak or death, she lost every single one of you.� She is frightened that if she risk her heart that it will only end in pain.�
Nick shook his head, trying to comprehend what she was telling him.� �I don�t know Jenny.�
�Think about it Nick, Mel has suffered so much grief in one lifetime.� How would one person cope with all sorrow in their life, knowing that in one second anything they hold onto dearly to could be taken away from them?�
�I admit that Mel has endured a lot in her life, more than anyone should.� But��
�No Nick, listen to me.� I was with Mel everyday for two years, years she was away from you.� I saw her grieve over the loss of your relationship and before she could even heal from that, she lost Bella.� She spent nights crying herself to asleep.� And if that wasn�t enough, she loses her father.�� Jenny stood up and walked over to the fireplace, touching the mantle.� �Melissa has had to mourn for three people in her life in such a short time.�
Nick let what she was saying sink in, realizing Jenny was right.� Melissa was scared and she had every right to be.� Everything she had held onto was taken from her suddenly.
�So what can I do to help her?�� Nick asked walking over to her.
�She needs to know that no matter what happens, if you get back together, if you are just friends, or if you are nothing to each other that you will always be there for her.� That nothing or no one will keep you from her.�
�Do you really think that will work?�
�I don�t know anything Nick, I just know that I can�t stand by and let my cousin suffer anymore.� She is slowly dying inside and it is killing me to see her like that.�
Nick lowered his head.� �Me too.�� Then he looked at Jenny.� �I will do whatever I can to help Mel.�
Jenny headed to the door.� �I know you will, Nick.� Thank you.�
�You don�t have to thank me.� I love her.�� He softly smiled at her.
�I see that now.�� She gave him a tiny grin and then left.
Knock�knock.� Kathleen slowly opened the door.� �Honey, are you up?�
Melissa sat up and looked at her mother.� �I have been up for hours.�
Kathleen sat down on her daughter�s bed.� �Why?� What�s wrong?�
�I couldn�t sleep; I tossed and turned for all night.�
�Does this have anything to do with Jenny�s visit?�
�Maybe.�
Just then Kathleen noticed the broken mirror.�� �What in the hell happened here?�
Melissa stood up and ran her hands through her hair.� ��I had an accident.�
Kathleen looked over the shattered vanity.� �Mel, that isn�t an accident.� You had to have thrown something at the mirror to have made that kind of impact.�� She turned to look at her daughter.� �What�s going on?�
�Nothing, I�m going to take a shower.�� Melissa exited the room.
Kathleen touched the broken mirror.� �Honey, I�m so worried about our daughter.� She is heading down a dark path and I feel helpless to stop her.�
�Are you going to tell me what Jenny was doing here?�� Brian asked entering the kitchen.
�She wanted to talk about Mel, she�s worried about her.�� Nick took a sip of his coffee.
�I think we are all worried about her.� She has suffered too much.�
�I know.�� He took another sip.
�So what are you going to do?�� Brian asked placing bread into the toaster.
�What makes you think I�m going to do something about it?�
�Because I know you Nick, you love that girl with everything in your body.� And because I know if it was Sam, I would do the same.�� Brian replied and left the room.
Brian was right; he would do anything for Melissa.� But how was he going to do it?� She wouldn�t talk to him even if he tried, but he had to find a way.
Three days had passed since Jenny�s and Melissa�s talk and that feeling from that day hadn�t left her.� Each and everyday it was eating away at her soul, she knew Jenny was right.� However, she couldn�t face her fears.� She had tried to forgive Nick and in the end he had hurt her again.� She couldn�t go through that pain again.
Melissa sat at kitchen table, playing with her spoon.� Lately she hadn�t had much of an appetite.
�I taught you to not play with your food.�� Kathleen stated with a smile as she walked into the room.
Melissa took a deep breath and turned to look at her mother.� �Mom, I need to talk to you about something.�
Kathleen walked over and sat down at the table.� �What is it, honey?�
�I have been doing some thinking and I have come to a decision.�
�Okay, what�s your decision?�
�I�m going back to Chicago.�
