• tab Time passed...
    tab And as time passed, so did my weariness about the situation. What would happen to Susan? What would what I told her cause her to do? Would she ever forgive me?
    tab But, what about the alternative? If I told her I forgave her, and that I loved her, what about Sarah? What would Sarah think of me then?
    tab I was given the choice to do either. But either way, I'd lose.

    tab Christmas Eve was around the corner. And nothing was going as planned. I hadn't even bought the wedding ring yet, and I felt lousy as ever as I stuffed my bags for what should've been a joyous occasion.
    tab That might be why I did what I did.
    tab For the most part, I was packing all the normal stuff. Spare clothes, some snacks, and since it was a Christmas party, I fished under my bed for some cheap gifts I could hand out. It was then when my hand touched a familiar feel, one that I hadn't felt in a long time.
    tab It was my old leather Bible that I got in second grade, I found out after I picked it up. I opened up to the first page. I smiled when I saw my name crudely written in magic marker.
    tab "Wow. It's still there." I glanced over at the bag, and back at my Bible, and though I still cant's really explain why--maybe I was just compelled to--put the Bible in the bag.

    tab It didn't take me long to figure out why Sarah was so excited about this place on the phone. It was...colossal, to say the least, and the moment I stepped inside, I felt like I stepped into Santa's little workshop.
    tab Only...bigger.
    tab "Jack!" It didn't take me long to recognize the voice. Sarah was already here, waiting with dozens of her other friends.
    tab "Hey, Sarah!" She ran up to me and gave me one of her giant, heart warming hugs.
    tab How could I possibly have been able to dump this woman?
    tab She let go of me, and said with her giant smile,
    tab "You want me to take your bag?" I shook my head.
    tab "No thanks. I got it."
    tab "Well," she said with a shrug, and now a kind of nervous smile, "I'm really sorry, Jack, but, um, do you have the money to stay?" I almost slapped my forehead out of my own stupidity. Of course! How could I forget that if I'm going to a hotel, I'm going to have to have money!
    tab "Uh, depends. Depends on how much."
    tab "Well, it's normally $250," she said, but quickly added, "But there's a special Christmas discount going on, so it's only $150."

    tab It was a temporary state of shock for me. The exact amount of money I had. $150...
    tab "But that's...I can't..." Sarah looked down sympathetically.
    tab "I'm sorry...I should've told you earlier. But if you can't pay it--" No, that's not it! I thought. The money...I'm using it for your Christmas present.
    tab I tried to think of a way to get out of it. A way to get both sides. But I knew I had to choose. One way or the other.
    tab But why was it that everything I chose, no matter what, I lost?
    tab I stared down into my wallet, and took out the loose $150 bills.
    tab "No..." I said reluctantly. "I got the money." The smile grew again on Sarah's face.
    tab "Oh, wonderful, Jack!" She gave me another hug, this time with a little peck on the cheek.
    tab After Sarah released me from her grasp, I looked up at everyone. They all looked so...happy. To them, it really was a Merry Christmas.
    tab Why couldn't the same be said for me?

    tab Sarah told me what room to meet up at, the schedule of events, and when the party was going to end. Then she walked off with her other friends, and I was left to pay for the hotel room.
    tab I walked up to the counter, but before paying, looked up at the TV screen.
    tab "Many cities have not been having a very Merry Christmas Eve, as reported heavy snow storms wiped out power in dozens of areas around America. Expect severe weather conditions if you are in these areas:" On the map, areas expecting snow storms were highlighted on the map.
    tab And one of the areas was the area I was in.
    tab I guess my panic was visible as the man at the counter asked curiously,
    tab "Sir? Are you all right?" I snapped out of my small phase, and stammered back,
    tab "Y-yeah. Here." I handed him the $150, telling him the details about what room I wanted, what group I wanted to be with, and so on.
    tab I began walking to the elevator, when I heard a voice behind me.
    tab "Jack..." I turned around. I already knew who it was, but with a cracking voice I still questioned my own senses,
    tab "Susan?"