Gabriel's Hope

Blood, not wine. Wine didn't congeal like this did. Disgusted, she stood. It was more blood than from a razor cut but nowhere near enough to justify a full skeleton in her bathtub.

This entire day was weird. Was she that far gone? The doctor said a sign she was deteriorating would be hallucinations. First the tattoos, now bones.

Deidre leaned down and touched a bone to see if it disappeared. It didn't. It certainly felt solid. There really was a pile of bones in her tub. Was that better or worse than hallucinations?

"You okay?" Logan's knock jarred her.

"Coming." Deidre wiped the blood off her foot onto a towel, unable to piece together what the hell was going on. When did she step into the Twilight Zone?

She left the bathroom, weirded out. Logan was in the living room. The lights were on and glowing, the television on quietly. She thought she heard the door to their bedroom close and glanced back.

"So, Gabriel," Logan's voice was casual enough to tell her he suspected something.

Deidre's shoulders dropped. She sat on the arm of the sofa.

"I did something. If you don't want to forgive me or can't, I understand," she started.

He was gazing at her warily.

"I kind of had … well …" she sighed. "Logan, I slept with someone else."

"Gabriel," he guessed.

"Yes. I don't know who he was and will never, ever, ever see him again." Her eyes watered. "Logan, I think he killed someone. And now, he's going to kill me. He marked me like serial killers do." She turned and pulled her hair aside to show him the tattoo once again. "I found the body and I thought it was you and I lost it. I came straight here. I am so, so sorry! So sorry!"

He gazed at her, emotionless. She expected him to react, but he didn't. She heard a sound from their room again and stood, understanding.

"Oh, Logan," she breathed then rushed on. "You're having an affair, aren't you? That's why you've been acting weird and came back and why you're not upset at me."

"That's … possible," he allowed.

"Oh. You couldn't tell me?" She felt hurt, knowing she didn't deserve to feel upset at him after doing the same thing.

"No."

"I understand, Logan. I'm so sorry about … you know." She motioned to her head. "She can come out. I'm not upset."

It really was over. She should've known. No one wanted a dying girlfriend, especially when she'd flat out refused to marry him. Logan rose quickly as she started down the hallway. Deidre knocked then opened the door to their bedroom, startled.