“I told you how you hurt me baby

But you don’t care

Now I’m crying and deserted baby

But you don’t care”

Tears glistened on Anna Marie’s cheeks as she listened intently to the lyrics of the Beyonce song. Poor Savannah loved Calvin Hunter with all her heart, and he was carelessly throwing his wife away. Calvin was far away from his wife as he was shooting on location in Arizona for the next science fiction blockbuster Binary Blitz. Calvin, starring as hunky hero Morton Franklin, had been duped by his fellow co-stars that he was in danger of being blacklisted in the industry by Savannah’s family. Well, adopted family. Poor Savannah did have her biological parents, but they did not truly care for her. And Savannah, sweet and charming had been lovingly adopted by the Blackford family. Henry Blackford, her adopted father basically owned and operated the movie studios in Tinseltown. Although Savannah did not need any extra help as she was an incredibly talented actress, singer, and dancer. A triple threat.

Anyhow Calvin’s co-stars on his latest film convinced the naïve hunk that Henry Blackford was secretly out to destroy his career out of sheer dislike for their adopted son-in-law. And Calvin, angry at the betrayal had gone to his lawyers and had divorce papers drawn up against Savannah. And innocent Savannah, unaware of the whole situation, was devastated by her husband’s abandonment and at worst fearing he had developed an attraction to his gorgeous co-star Elizabeth Parlon. Wiping away tears with the back of her hand, Anna Marie whimpered, “Oh Calvin, how could you think Savannah would ever hurt you?” Faces fell in place as she watched the movie playing on the screen in front of her and the screen in her mind.

The emotions in the song Anna Marie could easily pick out and played straight into Savannah’s pain. And Anna Marie acutely felt her character’s heartbreak of Calvin dumping Savannah. But she could not have the story for Savannah end here; her muse deserved a happy ending. Being dumped by her soulmate because other people’s jealousy was an unfair situation. Savannah had been abandoned by her biological family even though she was a great person who gave to others selflessly. And here was her husband ready to toss her out as garbage. No, the story could not conclude that way. She needed to change Calvin’s mind; therefore, she needed to find a song sung by a male voice that felt regret for tossing away the woman he loved.

Wait, an idea popped into Anna Marie’s head. Calvin’s agent would invite him out for a luncheon where they would bump into the distinguished Hollywood icon, Connor Maxwell. During this chance meeting, Connor Maxwell would ask Calvin about his wonderful wife Savannah and express his disdain upon Calvin at the thought of divorce. Connor Maxwell would caution Calvin on making a rushed informed decision, and the well-connected award-winning actor calls acclaimed director Buddy Farlan. During this telephone call, the Oscar nominated director would clear the air on these supposed rumours proving Calvin’s co-stars were only trying to mislead him. A distraught Calvin realizes he jumped to conclusions about his wife and her adopted family.

Understanding the gravity of his mistake, Calvin rushes out of the restaurant and calls his attorney while impatiently waiting for the valet to drive his silver convertible towards him. With one hand holding his cellphone to his ear, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a couple hundred dollar bills and pushes them into the valet’s hands. Calvin still needs to be polite and caring to other human beings even though he is extremely wealthy. Savannah would never be with a man who did not love his fellow human beings. Hurriedly climbing into his vehicle, Calvin shouts into the phone instructing his lawyer to tear up the divorce papers. Now the distraught actor had to find Savannah and beg for her forgiveness. Ooh…Anna Marie needed to think of a good song to reflect Calvin’s remorse on his actions.

An annoying buzzing sound emanated from the couch cushions besides Anna Marie. She huffed rolling her eyes, frustrated with the annoying interruption. Normally she would just ignore the buzzkill of her phone, but if it was who Anna Marie thought – the calls would never stop. Anna Marie’s mother stubbornly would not just leave a message, the elderly woman would hang up and call again and again. One time out of spite Anna Marie would not answer her mother’s call, and the old woman rang her seventeen times in a row. Life was just easier if Anna Marie spoke to her mother. But….she would have to find the phone first. The brunette moved a couple empty foil burger wrappings, used tissues for crying over Savannah’s heartbreak and odd scraps of paper listing her appointment dates for her therapist.

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Throwing papers up in the air, Anna Marie had trouble spotting the black phone on the dark blue couch with zero sunlight coming from the windows during midday. The buzzing sound stopped and panic set in Anna Marie’s heart. Mother gets irritated when she doesn’t answer right away. Counting the seconds in her head, Anna Marie in an act of desperation lay her hands flat on the cushions and felt around. Just around twenty seconds, the buzzing started again. Aha! She found the phone, but her elation soon faded as she noticed the front screen listed her missed calls and realizing this call was the twelfth attempt. Taking a deep breath, Anna Marie ran her finger up to answer the call and cautiously spoke. “Hello?”

A female voice replied gruffly. “About time. Why are you not answering my calls? Are you doing okay? Are you in trouble? Anna Marie, are you high?”

Uh-oh, she knew. Realizing right off the bat that this would be a grilling, Anna Marie decided getting up and pacing would be the best way to avoid a panic attack. Best to answer with honesty. “No, Mom. I am not high.” Or not. Best to grovel. “I just noticed you were trying to reach me.”

“Yes, I have been. All morning. You have me and your father worried sick. We were thinking of calling the police for a welfare check.” A pause on the line. “What were you doing?” As Anna Marie struggled to stand up from the couch, she gritted her teeth. Welfare checks by the police were just embarrassing as it has happened a few times here and there since she moved to this apartment building. Slightly humiliating trying to explain to the cops that she was just in a bad funk. For Anna Marie, a bad funk was just this – weeks without moving from the apartment, not eating and staying in the same clothes for the last two or three weeks. Walking around her couch, panic struck Anna Marie. What day was it? Had she missed any appointments with her therapist or psychologist. They get REALLY upset with her.

“Anna Marie? Are you even listening to me?” Her mother’s angry voice cut through her thoughts.

“Huh? Mom, yeah…everything is good. I am just…you know...busy.” A dark wave of depression swept over Anna Marie. This was not the way she thought it would be when she moved into her new apartment. Four months ago, she was living with her parents in their tiny two-bedroom apartment and sleeping on their couch. Anna Marie expected her mood would improve once she got into her own space, but obviously not much had changed with her depression. Feelings of sadness caused tears to form again in her eyes. These bad funks just kept proving Anna Marie’s sense of failure. Couldn’t hold down a job, couldn’t keep her husband and couldn’t make her parents proud.

“Anna Marie? What is wrong with you? This is why you shouldn’t smoke that stuff.”

Too much. All of this sadness was now too much for Anna Marie. Whimpering on the phone, she stated. “Hey Mom, can I just let you go. Tomorrow will be better. I promise.” She lied. She didn’t think anything can get any better. The song for Calvin. She needed to think of the song for Calvin. Boyz II Men. You can never go wrong with Boyz II Men songs. Needing to get back to her story, she mimicked a happy tone to her mother on the other line. “Can I just let you go Mom? I need to get into the shower.” Another lie.

“Fine. Just answer your phone next time.” Anna Marie could hear her mother continue with her goodbyes, but she couldn’t bear to hear the disappointment in her tone. She was a terrible daughter. Maybe it would be better off if she wasn’t here at all. No, she couldn’t think like that. Calvin and the song. With tears sliding down her cheeks, she plopped back on the couch and searched her music playlist for Boyz II Men songs. Nope, nope, nope – found it. On Bended Knee – perfect song for Calvin and Savannah. Anna Marie hit play on the song and gazed at the actor on her television as the lyrics played.

Darlin’ I, I can’t explain

Where did we lose our way

Girl, it’s drivin’ me insane

And I know, I just need one more chance

To prove my love to you

If you come back to me

I’ll guarantee

That I’ll never let you go