A/N - It's been well over a year since I've written, so my writing is a little bit rusty. Thank you for all the great reviews! Words cannot express my appreciation for them as they have truly inspired me stick it out and finish this story.

Meredith didn't know how long she ran before her tired legs finally gave out and she collapsed onto the cool sand barely kissed by the warmth of the sun just starting to peek up over the horizon. Her breathing was labored, her body numb from the exertion. She closed her eyes hoping the numbness would settle into her heart, to take away the indescribable pain, but no such reprieve came.

When all the events of the previous night came flooding back in rapid successions, each image driving the betrayal like a double-edged sword deeper into her chest, she cried into the open sky and took off once more. Confusion muddled her mind and pain pierced her heart, but her survival instinct – one honed by years of a lonely existence – kept her battered will going.

"I'm in love with you."

Her head shook violently, the strands of her hair lashing at her reddened eyes as it flew past her blurred vision. But the stinging pain did nothing to dull the sound of Derek's voice as it echoed in her head. Her hands moved instinctively to cover her ears, but despite her vehement denial, her body could not forget. The passion she had felt at his whispered words of love while his hands caressed her body in sweet possession was forever ingrained in her mind. And in her heart.

"I'm in love with you, Meredith. I know you feel the same about me."

"Damn you." She muttered dejectedly, her hand coming up to angrily wipe away the tears she hadn't realized she'd shed. And with that realization, more tears came until it was a steady stream and she was forced to stop.

"Miss? Are you okay?"

Meredith looked up in her teary haze to see two pairs of soft brown eyes looking at her with obvious concern. She didn't think anyone would be awake given how late into the night the party had lasted. But the elderly couple looking at her did not strike her as the kind of people that would be in attendance at a party such as the one thrown. They looked down to earth, friendly, and a complete contrast to the conceit and haughtiness that reeked off every fashion crazed men and woman from last night.

Exactly how far did I run?

"I'm okay." Meredith answered, trying her best at a smile. She knew they didn't believe her. She could only imagine how she must look with her hair and clothes in disarray and her reddened eyes swollen and puffy.

"You know, dear, whatever it is that's upsetting you can't be that bad."

Meredith wanted to laugh – hysterically – at that, but she knew all the woman had intended was to console and offer words of comfort. But the reality was her situation had long since moved past bad and was now skirting dangerously close to the very edges of catastrophic.

It had been bad when she had agreed to see Derek after discovering who he was and what his family meant to her fathers' business. But his charm had been as undeniable as the growing attraction she'd felt upon seeing him again.

And it had been bad when she had concocted the asinine idea of their no strings attached physical relationship. How naïve and arrogant she had been to think she could walk away at any time with her heart untouched and unmarred. She had believed she had had the upper hand in their arrangement, but the truth was, she had lost control in more than one way that night in his office.

But to fall in love with him?

Yes, she had most definitely been flirting with disaster when she agreed to spend the weekend alone with him. She had been deluding herself into thinking it was just sexual when her heart had already been sending her signals she had unwisely chosen to ignore.

And now she was being a coward. Running away from an obligation whose burden she shouldn't have had to bear had she been strong and stuck to her resolve all those weeks ago. Foolishly agreeing to marry a man she didn't love and was certain didn't love her back. And worst of all, she left her heart open and exposed to a man whose potential for cruelty she'd discovered first hand last night. She couldn't stand weakness, yet that was exactly what she'd become and the bitterness of that truth stung and made her nauseous.

"You're trembling." It took Meredith a few seconds to register that the elderly couple hadn't left and were now looking upon her with pity. "Why don't you come inside and I'll make you some tea to warm you up, dear."

The woman laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and gestured to a small, quaint looking house a few yards from where they stood. For a few seconds, Meredith actually found herself wanting to accept their kind offer, but she needed to get away and sitting inside a home not too far from the hell she was certain would follow upon the discovery of the notes she'd hastily scribbled and left behind did not sit well with her.

"Thank you," she muttered softly, barely finding her voice past her dry throat, "but I'll be okay. Really, I will."

With the bravest smile she could muster, she turned and willed herself to walk steady instead of run which was what her body had every compulsion to do.

Just put one foot in front of the other, Meredith. Just get through the day.

The sound of her phone ringing startled her out of her daze. Sneaking out of her room as hastily as she had, she didn't think she'd had the foresight to take any possessions with her, yet the incessant ringing proved otherwise.

Meredith's blood ran cold when she saw the name on the display. This could only mean that her message had been delivered. With numb fingers, she pressed the ignore button and walked on, determined to distance herself as much as she physically could. But as soon as she ended the first call a second one came and this time the name made her pulse quicken. Her stomach plummeted making it difficult to breathe. Her finger hovered over the answer button; the temptation to answer was strong, but just as she was about to press down, voices from a conversation she'd overheard last night served as a cold reminder and she quickly removed her finger as if burnt by it.

"I can't believe you did it."

Laughter.

"I'll admit I had my doubts, but you—. I can't believe you had sex with Grey. Personally, I thought she was too good for you, but damn!"

Laughter.

"You know this doesn't change anything. You reached high and may have won. And you may be the better man, but I'm still better looking."

Laughter.

The call went into voicemail and seconds passed before a buzz signaled indicating that a message had been left. Her mind had barely registered the first text message, when a second came, then a third flashed on by. The words were a blur, quickly cut off by yet another incoming call.

The sudden influx drove her to near madness and tossing the phone on the sand; she turned and ran aimlessly with no sense of where she was going. She pumped her arms, her weary legs and bare feet soon came into contact with cold pavement. The gravel bit into her soft skin, the pain intense and sharp as it cut and probably drew blood but she didn't slow down. Her stomach ached, the desire to find a place to empty its contents all she could think about. So preoccupied she had been that she failed to heed warning from the couple that unbeknownst to her had been following her.

Meredith didn't see the car rounding the corner until seconds before her ears were deafened by the blaring sound of a horn honking and bright lights flashing. Her mind screamed for her legs to move as exhaustion swept across her body. But her muscles were tense, immovable and unable to react in time. Terrified and motionless with fear, she stood with her feet rooted to the ground and her eyes fixated on the black blur as it headed straight for her.

The seconds that ticked pass were wrought with tension, the frenzied thoughts running through her mind felt like that of watching a train wreck in slow motion. The devastation was palpable in every image that flickered past, but you couldn't look away, couldn't shut your eyes and numb your mind to it. Her pupils were dilated, eyes mesmerized as it stared straight at the oncoming car as it careened and swerved helplessly to try to avoid hitting her.

When the tense, taut lines of her overwrought body finally snapped, her legs finally gave out and she collapsed. Moments before she succumbed to the darkness, she found herself looking up into cerulean blue eyes that were oddly familiar and strangely comforting.