With Michael

Chapter 70 - A Setup

1st of September, 2008
Brooklyn and Janet are 42, Michael is 50

Janet: "Mom, I already said I'm sorry! Please come out, we need you." Kate cried through the door.

I've locked myself in here for almost two straight days. I just wanted to be alone.

"Janet, please..." Brooklyn begged.

I was heartbroken and confused. But most of all, I felt self conscious.

What did I do to make Brandon stop loving me?

I put my face in the pillows, trying to hide my frustrated cries.

Suddenly, I heard the window open. I lifted my head, but my tears blurred my vision.

"You know I don't like to see you cry." Brandon's familiar voice said.

"Get the fuck out, Brandon."

"No. You're gonna listen to what I have to say."

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Katie called." he answered.

I rolled my eyes at my daughter's name.

"Don't to that, Janet," he sighed. "And don't blame her. She was just lying for me."

"That's exactly my problem, Brandon. She was lying. I taught her better than that. And don't defend her, either. She's a big girl, she can decide for herself. She could've told me. You could've told me. You know you can talk to me about everything."

"But this was something I could never tell you. It would break you."

"You- What made you stop loving me? Was it something I did?" I questioned.

"God no," he hurried to say. "You were perfect. I'm the one to blame here, okay?"

"You can't just stop loving someone. There must be something I did." I looked up at him.

"You did nothing."

"Stop saying that! I need to know what I did! This doesn't make sense, Brandon! I gave you everything! I gave you my heart and soul. I gave you three beautiful daughters... I gave you a strong marriage. I gave you my trust. And I love you. That's the most important thing. I've loved you for so long, I can't even remember not loving. I love you, I love our life together, I love everything about us! You know how hard it was for me to commit to you? Why does Katie have to tell me that her dad, my husband, cheated because he doesn't love me anymore? And that he's been with a cheap ass whore? That he loves her and not me?"

Brandon pulled me into a tight hug and let me cry into his chest. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way, I really am... Believe me, I wanted to tell you. I just couldn't find the right way... I mean, how do I tell the love of my life that the love I had for her ran out?"

"You don't. You stay with me and you tell me you love me even if you don't mean it." I said.

"I can't lie to myself... That's not how I was raised. You were raised on the same values. Always be true to yourself, right?" he caressed my hair, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

I nodded and sniffled.

He was right. But I couldn't help feeling like there was something I did to cause him to stop loving me.

"Can I meet the slut- I mean, Veronica?" I asked.

"Only if you promise to act nicely." Brandon said.

"I'll try."

He laughed, hugging me tighter. "Thank you for understanding. Promise me we'll never drift away from each other, okay? You're my everything."