Bed of Roses

By Susan J.

While Miguel and I walked through town and enjoyed ourselves, Melinda followed behind watching every move that we made. When we stopped to look at something in a store window, I felt like we were being watched, so I looked around the area where we were standing. Miguel looked at me.

"What's wrong?" Miguel asked.

"I feel like we're being watched."

Miguel looked around but saw no one. "There no one watching us."

"Then I must be going crazy." He took me in his arms and held me close.

"The only crazy feeling that you're experiencing is your feeling for me."

I started laughing. "Oh that must be it."

"Damn right that's it."

He kissed me. "Come on I feel like buying you something," Miguel said.

"Oh really? Like what?"

"I have no idea, but once I see it I'll know. Now come on."

We continued walking down the street. Melinda continued to follow us closely. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, but I didn't tell Miguel. We walked into one of the stores and looked around. I went towards the ceramic figurines and Miguel went toward another area. After about twenty minutes of looking we walked out; as we walked down the street we noticed that there was hardly anybody out on the streets, we looked at each other.

"It must be siesta time," Miguel said.

"I think you're right."

"Come, let's get back to the hotel and take a siesta." He winked at me.

"Miguel, are you trying to seduce me?"

"Trying no, I am seducing you."

I smiled. We arrived back at the hotel and took a very special siesta. I awoke about an hour or so later and got up and dressed, Miguel continued sleeping. I wrote him a note and placed it on the pillow next to him; I then got my purse and went downstairs to the lobby. I went into the gift shop that the hotel had and looked around and picked up a few personal items. I paid for the items and left the shop; as I walked past the registration desk one of the clerks called out to me.

"Excuse me ma'am," the clerk said.

I walked over to the desk.

"Yes?"

"There was a message left for you."

"For me? Are you sure?"

"Yes, aren't you Mrs. Bain?"

I thought for a second and realized that Miguel must have registered us as Mr. & Mrs.

"Yes I am." He handed me the message.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, ma'am."

I walked towards the elevator and once the doors opened I walked in; as I rode the elevator I read the message. The note was typed written, the note read: "I'm watching you and you won't get away with it."

The elevator doors opened and I walked down the hall until I got to the room, I opened the door and walked in. Miguel heard the door close.

"Amor, is that you?"

"Yes, Miguel."

I walked into the bedroom; Miguel was wearing only his pants and was sitting at the foot of the bed.

"Did you get what you needed?"

"Yes, plus one thing more."

"What?"

"This." I handed him the note and he read it, he then looked at me.

"Where did you get this?"

"The clerk at the front desk gave it to me. Miguel, didn't I tell you that I felt like we were being watched?"

"I guess you were right, but I wonder what they meant by this message?"

"I'd like to know myself."

"Are you still going to want to go out tonight?"

"Hell yes, I'm not going to let this note stop me from what I came here to do."

"That's my woman."

I sat by him. "Your woman? Since when?"

"Since the day that we met." He kissed me.

It was around nine o'clock when we left the hotel and headed to the restaurant, we had a wonderful dinner and talked for at least two hours. We then went to a club and enjoyed the music as well as watching the people around us having a great time. Miguel leaned over towards me.

"You know you haven't visited the beach," Miguel said.

"Yes I know."

"Would you like to?"

"Now?"

"Yes now."

"What time is it?"

"It's three thirty."

"Let's go back to the hotel and change first."

"Why?"

"Because I want to change into something more comfortable."

"Your wish is my command."

He kissed me passionately. We got up and left, we leaded back to the hotel and changed our clothes. When we arrived at the beach it was about four thirty; the night was warm and clear. Miguel and I walked hand in hand and let the warm water lap at our feet. We stopped when we saw the sun start to rise, Miguel hugged me from behind and we quietly watched the sun greet the new day. The sun shone down upon the water and on us, I turned around and looked at Miguel.

"Thank you, Miguelito."

"For what?"

"For sharing the sunrise with me. You made it more special by being here with me." I put my arms around his neck.

"That is the nicest thing that you've ever said to me." He kissed me. As I hugged him I saw someone in the distance walking towards us, as the person got closer I recognized who it was, I let Miguel go.

"We have a visitor Miguel."

"Who?"

Miguel turned around and the person stopped right in front of us.

"Did you forget me already, Miguel?" Melinda said.

"Melinda, what the hell are you doing here?" Miguel asked.

"I was just in the neighborhood."

"You're the one who's following us, aren't you?" I said.

"Yes. Did you get my note?"

"Yes I did, now what do you want from me?"

"I want you out of Miguel's life."

"You are out of your mind Melinda! You have no right to say that!" Miguel said. She walked right up to me and we were almost nose to nose.

"Get out of Miguel's life! He doesn't need you!" Melinda said.

"Oh really? What makes you say that?" I said.

"Because he has me!"

"Miguel get this child out of my face before I rearrange it." Miguel got between us and pushed us apart, he turned to Melinda.

"Melinda I want you to leave!" Miguel said.

"I'll leave only if you come with me!"

"No! Just get out of here!"

To our surprise Melinda turned and started walking away. I looked at Miguel.

"I wonder if she's going to go back to your house and boil some bunnies?"

"What?"

"The girl is not all there Miguel. This situation is ending too easily, I don't like it."

"It will be okay, don't worry."

Melinda stopped and turned around; she came back towards us.

"I told you it was too easy Miguel."

I then saw Melinda pull out a gun from a bag that she was carrying. She aimed it at Miguel and fired one shot, and my nightmare had now become a reality.