never a cool girl

This place builds them. Actually, more like it remembers them. And the more times it remembers something, the less it does.

When Mel steps outside into the ambulance bay, she regrets it immediately.

A woman stands in the bay. Expectant. She's a sharply dressed in a cream colored blouse with a long skirt, her eyes covered by sunglasses. Even without her wedding ring beaming in the daylight, she could recognize this person anywhere, as Mel's pulse begins to ring in her ears.

Standing now in front of her, looking at Mel as if she were a cat that caught the canary was Abby Langdon.

"How can I help you, ma'am?" Mel says, going for neutral.

"Oh, she's polite." Abby smiles strangely, as if speaking to someone who wasn't there.

"Do you need medical assistance? Or are you here to see someone in the hospital?"

"Oh yes," Abby nods and Mel is foolish enough to feel herself relax. "I'm looking for a Mel King? Blonde, wears glasses, has this quirky habit of sleeping with other people's husbands."

So she did know.

"I don't what you're implying but—,"

"He's such a fucking cliché," Abby scoffs. "A blonde girl in her twenties? Let me guess you were a virgin when you guys met."

She can feel her body flush, her face heating up and most likely turning red. But she did not dare look away or give the woman the satisfaction of her fear.

"If you're not here for medical attention, and you're not here to visit a patient. I'd suggest you leave before I call security." Mel begins to head back inside when she feels Abby grab at her wrist tightly. She sees the delicate manicure adorning her fingers.

Mel tugs her wrist back and Abby lets her go

"I know you probably love him, and you think he loves you too. Of course you do, he's sweet, he listens to you, and he remembers everything you say." Abby says, her voice lower and softer. Her tone understanding. "But at the end of the day that man is married with two children. He already has a life put together and as much as says otherwise, he's not going to throw it away for you."

It strange how she manages to sound kind, as if they were friends.

"You're young, smart. You're a fucking doctor for Christ's sake!" Abby laughs, throwing her hands upward. "Why throw your life away for a married man?"

Because I love him are the only words that she can think of.

But she knows that Abby Langdon of all people doesn't care that she loves Frank and that he loves her too. It would be pointless, akin to turning on her stomach and praying that this woman wouldn't hurt her, the person that came to ambush her at their workplace, specifically on Frank's day off.

"If you do not need medical assistance, then I suggest going home before your husband returns from his NA meeting and wonders where you are, Ms. Tanner"

"Mrs. Langdon," Abby grits out.

The sound of summer