Getting past the pain- part 2
“
The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. Maybe they always have been and will be. Maybe
we’ve lived a thousand lives before this one and in each of them we’ve found each other. And maybe each time we’ve
been forced apart for the same reasons. That means that this goodbye is both a goodbye for the past ten thousand years and
a prelude to what will come. When I look at you, I see your beauty and grace and know they have grown stronger with every
life you have lived. And I know that I have spent every life before this one searching for you. Not someone like you, but
you, for your soul and mine must always come together. And then, for a reason neither of us understands, we’ve been
forced to say good-bye. I would love to tell you that everything will work out for us, and I promise to do all I can to make
sure it does. But if we never meet again, and this is truly goodbye, I know we will see each other again in another life.
We will find each other again, and maybe the stars will have changed, and we will not only love each other in that time, but
for all the times we’ve had before.”
Could it be true, she wondered? Could the words
spoken in that incredibly romantic comedy really be true? They had certainly spoken to her; and she hoped that they had also
spoken to the man who was sitting beside her. DESTINY; did it truly exist? Maybe she’d never know. But she had never
completely ruled it out either. How could she when something greater than she always seems to bring her and Bo back to this
spot? Adversaries; friends; lovers; husband and wife; adversaries; friends. It was a cycle that just kept on moving with no
clear spot of destination.
She laughed to herself as she thought about the
next phase in that cycle and then brushed it aside.
Maybe they were simply meant to be just friends. Not that it was a bad thing; having Bo Buchanan as your friend was a blessing
in disguise. And when she thought about it there was no way she could be anything else in this stage in her life; not when
she could barely stand to be touched by anyone. And besides… he’s engaged to someone else. Engaged… she
said again as she stared across the table at the palace and saw him watching her
every move. Could he tell, she wondered?
Could he tell that she was fantasizing about what it would feel like to kiss him again [stopping her thoughts in midair] but
she had hadn’t she? For the first time in all her life she had done something completely selfish. She had kissed him
so Gabrielle would leave and she could spend the day with Bo instead. What had gotten into her she wondered? Why had she suddenly
acted like his relationship was irrelevant? Why had she suddenly decided to monopolize his time? [A pause in her thoughts]
Because you idiot… Because you were raped. Anything Gabrielle could go through could never compare to that; she simply
needed him more. And if he was willing to provide the support she needed… why should she turn him down? No, she was
through being the woman everyone could count on to be Good and Forgiving, and non judgmental. Why should she when it’s
only gotten her a one-way ticket to hell? Now she was taking back what used to be hers…
Bo: Nora? Nora, are you Ok?
Bo was staring
at Nora as she was picking on a full course meal. In all the years he had known her he had never seen her eat so much. He
could tell from looking at her as he face began to flush, that she was about to make a beeline for the bathroom. After she
ran for the bathroom where she proceeded to puke her guts out, she returned to the table where she balled her eyes out. Bo
wasn’t sure what to do so he just grabbed a hold of her hand and squeezed it for moral support. Other than that he just
listened.
Nora: I am so tired of being afraid Bo. You see this (she pulled out the napkin which was wrapped with kitchen
knives) I carry kitchen knives with me where ever I go now because I’m not sure I’d be able to use a gun. I still
remember what you taught me Bo. And yet I’m terrified that I’ll lose it on someone who isn’t trying to do
me harm. I don’t feel safe at all; sometimes I wonder if I ever will.
He pulled her into his arms and wrapped his strong
arms around her. He held her so tight she knew no one would be able to get to her if they tried. He stroked her hair as she
cried until she was exhausted. He sang a lullaby to her to calm her shaking nerves and for the first time in months she felt
truly protected.
Bo (looking into her eyes): Come on sweetheart…
lets go home.
Nora: Thank you Bo. Thank you so much.
Bo: Everything’s going to be all right baby…
I’m not going anywhere.
He helped her up off the seat and they walked off
together with her resting her head on his shoulder. They got as far as the car when Nora passed out. Bo didn’t bother
to ask questions, he just drove “like a bat out of hell” all the way to the hospital. When he carried an unconscious
Nora inside, it seemed that all eyes were on the woman in his arms.
Everyone had heard the gossip around town, and
by now it was obvious that they all wondered whether this time she was telling the truth. Could Chicago’s “ party
girl” from years past really have been raped? For Bo, there was no question at all; He just wished that the outsiders
would keep their private jokes to themselves and stop sneering at a woman who was barely keeping it together. He didn’t
care if Daniel Coulson was a powerful man or not; that night he made himself as small as a spider and he was going to crush
him. If it was
the last thing he did, he was going to make sure that he paid for what he had done to his Ex- wife. But
that would have to wait….
Bo: Well are you all gonna stand there and stare
or can we get a doctor in here?
Nurse (putting down her magazine): Uh… sure
thing Mr. Buchanan.
Bo (sarcastically): THANK YOU!!!
Nurse: what happened?
Bo: I’m not really sure. That’s why
I brought her here. She passed out.
Nurse: bring her over here. We need to get her in
an examining room.
Bo [to himself]: Well DUH? I could have told you
that? And I’m PAYING for this crap. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. [Out loud] Just hurry. She’s been out for
quite a while.
After he laid her on the bed and watched them wheel
her away he went to the phone. Nora needed help and it was time he got it for her. If he could do nothing else for her, he
hoped she would remember this as being the one selfless act he had ever done. He un-crumpled the paper in his hands and dialed
the foreign number. He never thought he’d have to use this, but now definitely counted as an emergency. When he heard
the voice on the other end, his heart got stuck in his throat.
Bo: Margaret Thornhart? You certainly know how to
take a man’s breath away. How have you been?
Marty: [pausing] Bo? Oh My God, it’s so good
to hear from you.
Bo: You taking good care of that daughter of yours
I hope.
Marty: She’s a real fighter like her dad.
But I love every minute that I have with her. [Pause] Motherhood certainly agrees with me.
Bo: Good to hear it. And Patrick?
Marty: Penny has got him wrapped around her little
finger. And he’s started writing again… but he wishes he could come home. We miss you so much. All of you. [Pause]
listen Bo… I happen to know that my husband gave you this number for emergencies, and I have a feeling this isn’t
a social call.
Bo: You have no idea how much I wish it were…
Have you been watching the news much?
Marty: What happened? We don’t get much news
down here… especially since we’re in hiding. Please tell me that everyone’s ok?
Bo (wiping the tears from his face): It’s
Nora…
Marty (feeling a sudden sense of panic): OH GOD…is
she?
Bo: She was raped…
Marty (now crying): No! Not Nora…. [Pausing]
how bad is it Bo? Emotionally, how s she?
Bo: Not Good. [Pause] she’s really bad Marty,
that’s why I called you. When it first happened, she wanted to forget the whole thing. She never told anyone. Now it’s
too late.
Marty: What do you mean?
Bo: they just released her rapist because of a lack
of evidence. He won’t even go to trial Marty. And now everyone is looking at her like she’s a slut, and she’s
a liar. I hate what it’s doing to her. She broke down after the preliminary. She screamed at the judge and almost got
charged with contempt. Afterwards she just sank to the ground and cried like I had never seen her cry before. I tried to comfort
her but she just ran off. I found her on the roof a little while later. She almost fell. That’s when I realized that
she blames herself for what happened.
Marty: She can’t do that Bo… this isn’t
her fault. No one deserves that kind of pain. And even if she DID taunt him that didn’t give him an invitation to rape
her. Isn’t there anything you can do to keep him in prison?
Bo: The only thing I can do is dish out my own brand
of justice. I could tear him from limb to limb… but what good will that do her? She has no one.
Marty: She has you doesn’t she?
Bo: Not in the way you think. We’re divorced.
Marty: Oh No… that can’t be right. You
two were the role models of Llanview. If you can’t make it, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Bo: Lets not talk about that right now. She’s
in the hospital.
Marty: Why? What happened this time?
Bo: She passed out. [Pause] I think she might be
pregnant.
Marty: I’m on my way. [Pause] and Bo, don’t
do anything stupid. She needs you more now than ever.
After she hangs up the phone she turns to her husband.
Marty: We’re going back to Llanview. We need
to get our stubborn friends back together.
After Bo turned around he came face to face with
Daniel. He slammed him against the wall and grabbed him by the throat.
Bo: Listen to me you piece of scum… you may
have gotten away with this in the eyes of the law, but if you EVER go near her again I swear I’ll KILL you.
And with that he released his grip and He stared
up at him.
Daniel: Is that a threat coming from Llanview’s
finest Police Commissioner?
Bo: That is a promise. [Pause] I will make it my
life’s work to make sure you regret the day you were born. You would have been a lot safer in prison. [Pause] watch
your back Danny boy. Retribution is coming. You won’t know when or how, but it WILL come. And I am going to love watching
you be brought to your knees.
Daniel: Might be a little difficult if she’s
pregnant now won’t it? Did you Really think you could keep me from MY child?
Bo: It’s not your child Daniel; and even if
it were it wouldn’t matter. Nora wants nothing to do with you. [Pause] Now get out before I decide to rearrange your
face.
Daniel looked up at Bo with a cocky smile.
Daniel: Not until you tell me who fathered her child.
That is, unless your lying. There is an easy way to find out you know?
Bo: Go ahead. It will tell you the same thing. [Pausing,
not seeing Gabrielle standing there] I’m the father of her child. Me… not you… [Pause] Stay away from Nora.
If you don’t you’re going to find out exactly why you don’t want me as your enemy.
Daniel looked up and saw Gabby. He smiled satisfactorily.
Daniel: Gee… Ms. Medina, I guess all your
jealousy was well placed. Your so-called fiancé was busy making a baby with his ex… isn’t that right Bo? [Pause]
Oh wait; she wasn’t supposed to know was she? I’m so sorry.And as he walked away Bo stared at Gabrielle, who had
now begun to cry. He considered telling her the truth, which was that everything he told Daniel was a lie, but he knew that
Gabrielle would be the first person to blow their cover. Since he refused to sell out his best friend, he looked Gabby straight
in the eyes and lied.
Gabby: Tell me it’s not true? Tell me you
never slept with that woman? Bo?
Bo: I’m Sorry Gabby. I can’t do that.
Gabrielle:( hysterical): You… You…
Bo (finishing her sentence): Yes. We made love.
(Pause) I could tell you the details but I don’t think you want to know. Right now the only thing that matters is that
it happened.
Gabby slaps him in a fit of rage.
Gabrielle: YOU LIED TO ME!!! YOU BASTARD>
Bo: I’m sorry I lied to you. There really
was no other way. It wasn’t my call, it was Nora’s. She didn’t want anyone to know because it was only one
night. Quite frankly, I agreed.
Gabrielle: ONE NIGHT? You threw everything we had
away for ONE NIGHT?
Bo: I lost my head Gabby. [Pause] We were working
late one night and she was upset. I wanted her to stop blaming herself. I wanted her to feel like the beautiful woman she
is. I won’t apologize for that Gabby. I like the person she is. [Pause] I only intended on comforting her. Things just
got a little out of hand.
Gabby: And now you’re having a baby? Well
I CERTAINLY hope it was worth it.[Pause] Maybe you can give this to her (she throws her ring in his face) It’s what
you’ve wanted all along anyways. I just don’t understand what’s taking you so long.
Bo: Gabrielle…
Gabrielle: No! No let me say this. [Pause] I saw
all along what you’re so afraid to admit. You love her Bo. You love her so much that you were willing to throw everything
away for HER. HER, Bo. That’s what kills me. [Pause] you spent long hours with her every day and when you weren’t
coming home to me you were busy making love to her weren’t you? [Pause] Not in the physical sense, that may have
only
happened once like you’ve said. But you were making love to her in your mind. Every time you held ME it was HER you
wanted. Every time WE kissed, it was HER face you saw. And every time WE made love, you were wishing it were HER. I was never
really yours Bo; it was always, you and her and me. Don’t bother denying what I know to be the truth. You risked everything
to protect her; you blew me off when your PRECIOUS Nora needed you; you spent more time with her than you EVER did with me.
You were looking for an excuse Bo; an excuse that you really didn’t need. Can’t you tell that she’s crazy
about you?
Bo: I don’t know what you’re talking
about Gabby? She’s the one who blew ME off.
Gabby: Yeah… Because she wanted you to be
happy no matter what. She looks at you like she can see heaven in your eyes. And it’s the exact same way you look at
her; the way you NEVER look at me. I don’t understand what your so afraid of; you SLEPT with her. Can you honestly say
that’s all you can give her? Because I may not be the biggest fan of hers right now, but she CERTAINLY deserves better
than you flip-flopping. She went through that all before Bo; do you really want to put her through it again? [Pause] I
hope you two will be very happy. [Sarcastically] have a nice life.
When she walked away he found himself staring at
the door. It was amazing how everyone had seen what he and Nora couldn’t. He was surprised on one hand that he didn’t
feel a thing when Gabrielle walked out on him, and relief on the other because he knew now he could concentrate on Nora. She
would need his full attention now, and he intended to give it to her no matter what. He was snapped out of his trance when
Larry came out of her room.
Larry: I don’t know how to tell her this Bo.
She’s Pregnant.
It was then that he realized his instincts were
correct and he had done the right thing by lying. It was up to him to make sure her worst nightmare didn’t destroy her
spirit. If it were the last thing he did, he would make sure that that bastard never took another thing from her. He swallowed
his pain and went into her room, determined to put her feelings ahead of his own. But Larry was right… Just how on earth
was he going to break the news?
To Be Continued
