I loved my fiancée. We had been together for over 2 years by the time I had finally popped the question. Really, 6 months of that time was putting together everything I needed to get the rings. We had been going on the rounds visiting family, each of us getting used to the fact that we would have even more strange people to put up with. The trip had been wearing on us but I didn't mind too much. I got to be with her. It was getting brisk and chilly outside, my favorite weather. Summer wasn’t couples weather. When it’s hot you just have to push people away just to cool down.

I had already pumped the gas into the car, but I walked into the convenience store. She had a headache. I knew the signs. “Be proactive, Caleb. Take initiative,” My mother had always told me. I had been terrible as a child. I still was to a degree. Tell me you're cold and I regard it as a fact. Tell me to get a blanket and I'll recognize a request.

But I tried really hard for her. I searched inside for Advil and I also got her a Pepsi. She hated Coke for some reason. I also picked up a Twix. She'd complain about the candy briefly. Something about a diet, but then she would smile. The little things were important. You needed to remember them for when big things happened. Besides for big things we make sacrifices because we have to. For little things we make sacrifices because we chose to. Big difference. I headed back to the car.

I was tired too, it was a lot of driving we had been doing. Plane tickets would be nice but that was just too expensive. Thus we spent our time instead of our money. It was maybe a bit of that exhaustion that stopped me from noticing something was wrong. I noticed half way back to the car. She was talking with some guy in a vest with Cowboys cap on. Clearly she didn't know him. Why was she talking to him? Her door was wide open and she was still sitting in her seat. I was nearly there when he saw me and gave me the brief glimpse of the gun he had from behind the door.

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He had her at gun point. Was it a robbery or a kidnapping? I stopped. 

The best move was to make a scene. If he was smart, he would have to flee. Shooting her would only mean a death sentence if he was caught. Maybe. That was only if he was smart. He could be vengeful, he could be high. I need more information. I could still get away to cause a scene. It was a pistol. They were not accurate. Not at a distance. I needed someway to get her away. I came closer.

“ We have some cash, you can take it and the car and go.”

“Do you think I rode to school in the short bus? I would only get as far as it takes you to call a stolen car in. Get in and drive.”

Diana’s eyes were open wide in terror. She was afraid. Could she even think? Would she know and understand what I was doing if I caused a scene? Would she think I was abandoning her? Willing to risk her life over mine? Would she stop loving me? Would she hate me? No, time to cause a scene.

“I can’t miss from point blank,” he pressed the gun into her back, “and it won’t be that noisy this close. So, if I have to start runnin, I’m going to shoot her, leave the gun and let everyone spend time figuring out whether or not you killed her. Get in the fucking car.”

I was beat. He was right. He believed he could get away. I had to find another way.