I walk in the apartment to see Ashley sleeping against the wall.  She looks like she’s been crying.  She’s fully cloathed.  What the hell happened I wonder as I gently tap her shoulder.

"Ash, baby."  I say softly.

She begins to stir a little, but she doesn’t wake up.  I kiss her gently on the lips, and I see her eyes open as I pull back.

"There you are."  I say as she looks at me.

"Hey."  She says monotone.

"Baby, what’s wrong?  Why are you in you clothes?  Why have you been crying?"  I ask talking a mile a minute.

"Will you just let me explain?"  She asks.  She looks so distant.  This is like the time we were eighteen when she went to a party, and she told me she had to stay home.  Oh, no.  Every single bad thing was running through my head.

"What did you do?"  I asked angry.

"Baby, just promise me you’ll let me tell you what happened before you get angry or upset."  I don’t say anything.  I just nod my head waiting for her to continue.  My heart beat increases, and I think Ashley notices.  I already feel like crying.  I mean, if this is what I think it is, it’s so over.  I need her, but I can’t keep hurting like this.  I’m getting ahead of myself, and I realize that when she starts to talk.

"I stayed home last night until I got so depressed I had to leave.  I never thought being without you would be that hard."  Ok, maybe this isn’t so bad.  "I went to the bar, and I was really enjoying the musician that was there.  I had had more than I thought I did when a blonde girl came up to me."  Ok, maybe this is worse than I thought it was I begin thinking.  "She didn’t offer to buy me a drink or anything, and she really just seemed like she wanted someone to talk to.  She was alone there, and I guess she just wanted company.  I mean, there is no harm in talking to someone to make friends, right?"  I just nod my head.  I’m so confused right now I don’t know what to do.  "The band played, and I kept drinking.  I didn’t realize how drunk I was until I got up to walk out.  I fell flat on my face.  She offered to give me a ride home."  Ashley takes a deep breath in when she seems my face.  I know I look hurt.  I know where this is going, and I’m not totally sure I want to hear it.  "We’ll I woke up at her place.  She said I passed out, and I couldn’t give her directions.  I told her it was fine, and I was leaving.  Then, again when I stood up, I feel back down."