Ellen's Journey (Matt/Ellen) - Chapter 3
Sunday, 27-Aug-00 17:19:28

152.163.213.56 writes:
Chapter 3


Matt is grasping for straws, hanging on for any little glimmer of hope that he sees!

"Alice, I know that you realize what Ellen means to me! Please tell me where she is!" Matt is pleading and that is something that he does not do!

"I told her not to break it to you like that. I said to trust you."

Matt is confused.

"Trust me about what? We've always been honest with each other down the line. What would make her distrust me now?"

Alice raises her hands.

"I can't tell you that, but she'll be calling any minute and we'll both pick up the phones at the same time. But no matter what you hear, you mustn't utter a sound. If Ellen even thinks that you know where she is, she'll bolt out of there like lightning and then neither of us will know where she is, and I can't take that kind of chance! She needs her motherespecially at a time like this? Do you promise to be quiet and just listen?"

He doesn't like the conditions of the arrangement, but if there
was a chance that he could learn where she was, he'd have to abide by it.

"I promise Alice to be quiet."

He goes over to the cordless phone on the couch, just as he does it rings. She nods and picks up the phone in the kitchen as he picks up the phone in the other room at the same time where she can see him.

"Hello." Alice says trying to sound calm.

"Hello Mother. It's me. I miss you and I hope that you are okay. I never thought that I was a vain person, but all I do is look in the mirror these days. Huh! A lot of good that will do me now."

She says solemnly.

"Baby where are you? I have some mail that I need to send you. You know, the results that you were waiting for came today." Ellen's spirit picked up somewhat.

"That's good. I'm in L.A., well I was, but now I'm in Malibu at 2977
Star Vista Rd. I've rented a nice house along Malibu beach. It is really beautiful, except there's one thing missing."

Ellen looks so sad. Alice knows what's missing.

"What's missing honey?" She asks, as if she didn't know.

"Matt. Matt is what's missing."

She says sadly. Matt smiles on the other phone. He knew that she still loved him, but why did she break it off? He had to find out why now. He just had too!

"It broke my heart to leave him that letter like that, but he deserves more than, more than...me! I did it for him! I'm not good for him. Not now! Not like this!" She breaks into tears and it took all that he had no to console her. He never could stand to see her cry.

"I have to go now Mother. I'll call you in a couple of days. I love you. Tell Matt, that I, I,...nothing. Tell him nothing. It's over for

She slowly hangs up the phone. Matt is still clinching the phone in his hand.

"Well Alice, I'm off to Malibu to find Ellen. She has a lot of
explaining to do!"

Alice knows why she has done the things that she has
done.

"Matt go easy on her. Things aren't always what they appear to be. Just remember that."

Matt shakes his head and leaveshurriedly. It's now 6:00
p.m. and Matt has gone back to his place to prepare for his trip. He packs and catches the first plane smoking to Malibu, CA. at 8:00 p.m. When he arrives at his destination it is now 4:00 .m. He checks into a hotel close to where Ellen's house is. He goes to sleep with the thought of Ellen in his arms and the feel of her smooth chocolate skin against his hard rugged frame. The feel of her hair against his chest always made him smile. Even the smell of her strawberry oil that she uses on her hair intoxicated him! How he would breathe in every aspect of her. Now she was gone and only the memories lingered on to torture him! He lay awake with thoughts of her being in his arms again, after all of this
mess was over! Finally he fell asleep and slept all night long. When he awakened it was 9:00 a.m. and he had his game plan together! He put on his red shorts, her favorite Hawaiian print shirt, his white tennis shoes and his cool shades and was off! When he arrived at her door, he was armed with three dozen red and white roses and a box of Godiva chocolates, her favorites. She could never turn them down. He knocked at her door and a voice from the other side said,

"Coming!" His heart lept at the sweet sound of her voice. She was here and so was he! The door opened and he smiled as big as he could. She was wearing a beautiful chiffon dress with a lovely scarf tied around her neck.

"Hello angel. I've missed you so!" She is speechless. May I come in?"
He asks, as if she said no, he would stay away!

"You haven't come all of this way to stay outside I know."

He comes in and looks at her as he extends the roses and candy to her.

"These are for you. I miss you so Ellen. Why did you leave me? I can't get you out of my head. Something happened that tore you away from me. I know it! Please tell me? Baby I can fix it! I know I can!"

He moves closer to her and takes her hand in his as he rubs it against his cheek. He closes his eyes to savor the moment but she snatches her hand away.

"Matt you shouldn't have come, because there are just some things that even YOU can't fix!"

He looks into her eyes.

"Why don't you tell me what it is and let's see."

Ellen pulls off her scarf and unbuttons the first two buttons on her dress to reveal a rash of big brown and reddish bumps that look like boils of some kind. They are hideous looking and even she has a hard time looking at herself in the mirror. How could she expect him to? The rash stretched from her upper neck to her chest cavity.

"Now do you see! And this is just the beginning Matt! You know what Martin's Syndrome is like, especially to a woman! It robs her of everything that makes her a woman, her femininity, her looks and her confidence! I can't bare to have you look at me now, so just go! Please go!"

Ellen begins to cry.

"Ellen, all I see is the woman I love. None of that has changed. I see you through the eyes of love, not the way you see yourself. There is only you and me and I love what I see. Please don't shut me out!"

He pleads.

"Matt just go!" She runs into the other room and slams the door.

He goes into the other room and waits for her to return. He is not giving up on her! Never!