His lips trace a path across her bare shoulders. Her skin warms to the hot exhaling of his breath. The archangel's hungry embrace is an awakening. The sting of cuts is numbed by his wanting kisses...the tang of lips so long untouched.......

She chooses to die in the arms of the seraph. He is her afterlife.....this is her paradise......

He makes love to her, never letting her go....keeping her safe in his wings.....

Gabi jolted awake and trembled. The beautiful darkness of her dream was replaced by harsh florescent lights.....the walls of crumbled mortar became the sickeningly cheerful powder blue walls of a hospital room....

Ricardo's hospital room....where he lay sleeping.

Guilt hit her like a Mack truck! What had just happened.....it couldn't have happened! How could she be in the midst of a bedside vigil for the man she loved and dream of....

Nurse: Miss?

Gabi: WHAT?!

She nearly jumped out of her skin....fearful that someone would be able to see his reflection in her eyes.....

The timid nurse recoiled from her. Gabi breathed a sigh of relief...laughing to herself over her her downright silliness! It wasn't as if anyone would know that she had just dreamed about.....

Nurse: I'm sorry, miss. Visiting hours are over.

Gabi: Oh....alright....

She approached Ricardo's bed, shaking. He was sound asleep, his face expressionless.

Gabi: Goodnight, Ricardo. I- I love you....tommorrow's the big day....I'm going to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you.....sleep tight.

She picked up her purse and nearly ran out of the room....trying to shake the dream from her brain. She tossed her hair, as if he'd just fall out.

But he didn't, and never had.

No. I don't have feelings for him. I've come too far........

She glanced at a payphone. She dug a quarter out of her pocketbook and shoved it into the slot. Meanwhile, Nurse Stacey patroled the hallways.

Nurse Stacey: (aside) Great gobs of Boston creme. Where's Dr. Robinson? It's as if he just disappeared.....

Antonio: Hello?

Gabi: An-antonio....it's Gabi.

Antonio: ( Hmm....I'm sorry. You must have the wrong number. I don't know anyone named Gabi...oh yeah. Except that woman I'm hopelessly in love with.) Gabi...hi. What's going on? Are you nervous about...the ceremony tomorrow?

Gabi: Do you want to meet me at the Deep?

Antonio: (spits out his water) What.....what did you say?

Gabi: Do you want to go to the Deep with me tonight? I'm leaving the hospital right now...I just feel like doing something, you know? So what do you say? We can celebrate my new beginning with Ricardo.

Antonio: I....I don't think that's such a good idea.....

She spoketo him in a cold, unfeeling way, as if she was reading out of the phone book.

Gabi: Antonio, listen to me. There's nothing wrong with us going out. The only way for us to go on living normal lives is to go back to being friends. If we're okay with us, then your mother and everyone else will have to be, too. You got it? So are you going or not? Are you ...still there?

Antonio sat motionless, clutching the receiver and staring out into space with his mouth hanging open. How could he go out on a nice platonic date with Gabi when it was written all over his face that he was more in love with her than ever?....

(((((((( Gabi: I am so pleased that we are able to participate in a civilized bar excersion like normal, nonexclusive friends, Antonio. Here, allow me to pour you more cuervo.

Antonio: **Hee hee......guess what, Gabi.....I still love you....an' I mean in a biiig wayyy.............**

Gabi: How dare you say such things to me! I am betrothed to Ricardo, now and until forever, you scoundrel! Just get a life!

Antonio: *Diid I menchin that I wove yoou??*

Gabi: Get him away from me!! Bouncers! Bouncers!! )))))))))

Gabi: Antonio?

Antonio: Huh? Oh--I......I don't know.......I ......alright. Yes, I'll meet you at the Deep.

Gabi: Great. I'll see you there.

Each of them hung up the phone, smiling.

Nothing. I feel nothing for him, for her. And I'll prove it, tonight.