Brent is driving, his hands gripping so tightly to the steering wheel that he doesn't even feel the pain in his hands.

His emotions are tearing him apart as he fights to keep himself together. He reaches his destination, high above the city. He stops his car at the overlook and just sits there.

He feels his tears start to make their way down his cheeks. He doesn't wipe them away as his hands still grip the wheel.

"Jen." He mummers as he rests his head between his hands on the steering wheel.

He had made a decision tonight: to finally ask Jennifer to marry him. They had been dating for two years, and he felt they were ready for the next step in their relationship.

He turns into the long drive that leads to her anti-bellum home, with its wrap-around porch that ends in a gazebo on one side. Many nights, they made love in that gazebo, with no neighbor around for miles. It was exhilarating and exotic.

He arrives at her house with the ring box in his pocket. He skips up her front porch steps with a smile, thrilled with the thought of marrying her.

Before he knocks on the door, he hears giggles and a burst of muffled male laughter. Curious about who else could be here, he walks toward the sound. He rounds the corner leading to the gazebo. The only light is coming through the house windows, creating a soft glow, and he sees them.

Still in the shadows, he stops in his tracks. It's her giggle. Then he hears the male speak.

"Baby, how long can I stay this time?"

"Sweetheart, you can stay the night. He won't be back until Monday. Now come back here." She says to the man in the same seductive voice she uses when they are making out.

Brent goes closer and can now see them naked with her legs around his waist.

He feels as if he has been gut-punched.

"Jen? What are you doing?" his heart is breaking into a thousand pieces. This is the woman he loved, the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life loving.

Jennifer and her lover both gasp in surprise. She pushes him off her and grabs the silk robe that Brent had sent her from Japan. She quickly jumps up, pushing her lover away as he tries to hold her. She harshly whispers to him, "Go now. I'll call you tomorrow." The man grabs his clothes and runs off into the dark. A few minutes later, a motorcycle revs, and the engine fades into the distance.

She just stands there staring at him. He can tell she is thinking up a lie she trusts he will believe.

He clinches his fist in his pocket with the ring box. He feels the rage swelling inside. "Why, Jen? Why? Was I not good enough for you?" 

He wants to beat something and wishes the man had stayed but he left like a coward and Brent would never hurt his Jen. She was never mine; this realization strikes him hard in his heart, pushing the anger out of him.

He drops to his knees crying. She rushes to him, "Brent, please don't be mad. I, I never planned this to happen. He said his girlfriend left him, and he needed someone to talk to and, and ..."

Brent looks up at her, "And out of the goodness of your heart, you only meant to comfort him." He says it, knowing it was a lie. So many things now fall into place, and he sees her for who she really is—a user, a gold digger.

"Get away from me." He tells her through gritted teeth. She doesn't move but comes closer to rest her hand on his shoulder.

"Sweetheart, It wasn't how it looked. Just let me explain."

"I said, get away from me!" He shakes her off as he stands, moving back from her.
She goes to step toward him.

"I said, GET AWAY FROM ME! Don't fucking touch me!"

She saw the shape of a small container in the pocket of his skinny jeans and knew what it was. In a honeyed voice, she speaks to him but remains where she is. "Sweetheart, please stay, and let's talk. What kind of ring did you get me? Can I see it? You always buy me the prettiest things." She smiles, knowing how much he loves her smiles.

"Are you serious!?" He shouts at her, disgusted by her shamelessness.

He glares at her. "We're done. It's over. You can send my things to my parents." He turns to leave, and he hears her footsteps as she follows. He doesn't even bother to turn around.

"Stop! There is nothing left of me for you to take."

Brent runs to his car and speeds away heading to their favorite spot, the mountain overlook. He shuts off the car and sits there, his head lowered contemplating many ways to stop the hurt.

He lifts his head, his hands more relaxed now that he can let go of the steering wheel. He looks at his fingers bent as if still holding on. He rubs his hands against his legs, trying to release the cramped muscles. He stumbles out of his car, looks up at the night sky, and screams as he drops to his knees.

"Why do I always find women like Jen to fall in love with? Why can't I find someone to love me and not just my money?" His tears freely fall as he cries. Looking up at the sky, he yells at the stars, "Please, for once in my life, send me someone who can love me."

As he pleads with the heavens, he sees a star shooting across the sky and makes a wish: "Please, send me a true love." He drops his head into his hands, knowing that the likely chance of ever finding true love is just a wish, only a wish.

The clock strikes 10 PM.

Little do Joy and Brent know, the stars were listening.