“Shane…..why are you doing this? Are they sleeping pills? I don’t understand… someone as fiercely independent as you….This isn’t the first time you’re doing this right? Downing pills because you can’t sleep….” There was something sorrowful in her eyes as she said this and Shane wondered why she had ever thought Carmen as someone she did not and would not desire. She was pretty, albeit in a non-threatening way and it was easy to overlook her beauty especially when Shane was surrounded with all kinds of women. Now, Shane finally comprehended the full extent of her mistake. Compared to the superficial and shallow beauty of those other women, Carmen’s beauty was on the inside and that was the most dangerous kind. And the scariest thing was that she cared. Despite everything Shane had thrown at her, she cared enough to stop her when no one else would.

“Carmen you’re not me….you don’t understand.”

“You’re right Shane..I don’t…..just humor me for one night…..don’t turn to the sleeping pills….you don’t have to be dependent on them….I don’t know what’s in your past, what you’re so desperately trying to escape from, but everyone has ghosts Shane….even me…” Her voice was soft and yet oddly persuasive. Shane knew the battle was over. The moment Carmen stepped into the room and took the pills over, Shane knew she wasn’t going to get the pills back. She knew that if she ordered her to return them, she would but somehow she didn’t want to. That spirit of Carmen’s was what made her so different, it was what made Shane feel whatever she was feeling towards her. She closed her eyes and settled down into her bed.

Moments later, she heard a slight rustling and she pulled the covers down. Carmen had sat down by her bedside, hugging her knees. “Carmen, why aren’t you gone yet?” A little smile curved her mouth.

“I’m staying till you fall asleep.”

“Why are you doing this Carmen? Why are you even trying to save me?” Carmen turned to look at Shane with a melancholic gaze.

“Shane….I’m not trying to save you….You know as much as I do, the only person capable of saving you is yourself.”

“It’s not as if you’re gonna get paid for this….” Shane said in a last feeble attempt to drive Carmen away, hiding half of her face in her blanket like a little child. There was a benign smile on Carmen’s face.