Chapter 41 - not so loose ends

Filling Marie in on the whole saga had taken some time. Mike had stayed the night after they had talked everything through. Marie had been cautious in believing the tale at first; until the final frayed threads of rope that connected her to Mike were cut at long last. Her eyes seemed to lose focus for a second. Then she looked back at Mike with complete realisation.

As for Mike himself, he seemed genuinely apologetic for the things he had done. Each connection lost seemed to bring him back to being an actual human being. Laura was the one who suggested that he stay a second night and think about what he wanted to do next.

“I don’t see why we’ve come here,” Mike grumbled, looking around Fairview; the town that he had briefly called home. Laura knew that he would never have agreed to come, had he known her true intentions. She led him into the diner, with Marie grabbing a table and greedily pouring over the menu.

“You want me to see Becky, don’t you?” Mike sighed, standing beside her. “Is this some sort of payback? Teach me a lesson about the consequences of my actions?”

Laura shook her head. “No. I don’t think you need anyone to tell you that stuff anymore.” She smiled at him with genuine affection. “I brought you here because I had a hunch. You see, all of your connections with girls have now collapsed and faded away. That is, all but one of them…”

“You mean, Becky?” Mike asked, with a surprising amount of hope.

Laura nodded. “My ill-conceived plan to keep you two together last year wasn’t all that bad after all. There’s a thick iron chain that connects the two of you. It’s getting a little rusted…” she cautioned, leading him down to the back of the restaurant. “However… with a little hard work and genuine effort, I think the love between you could be more than real.”

“But… what if I don’t find her attractive anymore?” Mike asked, suddenly pausing.

“Laura raised her eyebrows. “I think you need to see that love isn’t always about what someone looks like. Besides…” she went on, guiding Mike along once more. “There’s a little of your curse left in Becky too, you know? I don’t think you’ll be able to keep your hands off her for long!”

They stopped just short of seeing the woman hidden in the final booth. Her back was turned to them but it was clear that she was larger than most girls; with a table well stocked with foods that were particularly high in calories.

“But, it’s completely your choice…” Laura stated at last. “All my senses are telling me that this is right. I can’t describe how, or why. But I just…know. Becky is the one you’re supposed to be with."

Mike looked on at the girl with affection. He gave one final glance at Laura, then, he stepped forwards.

“Hi Becky,” he smiled nervously. “I’ve missed you.”