It was a week after the visit to the mills and Scarlett was feeling miserable. Ashley's words still rung in her head and it hurt her. The outside was dark and gray, and about to rain. But nevertheless, Wade and Ella ran out and played. They appeared to love the rain. Scarlett was completely still, not wanting to even move a single muscle. It hurt to much. Her nausea was mostly gone, and was replaced by silent nervous quiverings, which hurt worse. Her nausea was also replaced by frailness, and mucsle aching. Although she was heartbroken, Scarlett wanted Rhett. It was the first in all the pregnancy where she had wanted him. She felt no love, no warm feelings, however regret and unhappiness when she thought of that dark curious face. She told herself that it was because she hated him, however, she refuesd to accept the truth. She missed him and wanted him, just as she had when he had left her room. Her mind did not fill with despair at the thought of Melanie any longer. What was the point of hating her? What was it going to get her? Scarlett now understood that even if Melanie were dead, she could not have Ashley. Ashley was too busy being respectable to look at her.

Scarlett teared up at the thought of respectability. She had been so lonely since she was with this child. Her new friends were slowly pulling away from her. She did not care, she no longer desired such people to be around her child. A week ago, she had dedicated herself to the well-being of the baby. It never hit her why she would do such a thing. As far as Scarlett could remember, when everyone would fondle around babies, she would slip away. What made her love this child so blindly?

She could not understand why, why should she love this child if she did not love Wade and Ella? Perhaps she knew that they already belonged to someone, which they did. Their young hearts held no space for her, or so she thought. But in matter, the two youngsters playing outside, glumy wished that she would come out of the house and play with them. Or perhaps it was because she had convinced herself that their love would never matter. Oh what a fool she was! Wasn't it queer what never seems important in the beginning, is truly the one thing that matters in the end? But the love of children, important? Why? Because children are a blessing to those who will take them. Isn't that what Melanie said? But Wade and Ella could be nothing more than a burden to her, one more mouth to feed, one more person to look after. But this child felt different.

This child wasn't one to take up space, it filled it in. It filled Scarlett's now almost empty heart. Her mind filled with digust. Her and.. this child? That could not be. Every woman needs someone who loves them and they can love just as equally, and certainly not in a way you would love a child! Scarlett looked back into the mirror. She touched it. h=How cold and simple it was, like she felt. There was a thundering in the distance, and at the same moment, one in her heart. She then examined herself. It was afternoon, however Scarlett did not take time to gussy up so she would her prettiest. She looked pale with her usually rosy cheeks a hollow white. Her eyes showed no happiness, but now showed the feeling of a poor starving woman. She shivered violently to remember those awful days at Tara. All that hunger, and work that nearly made her die! Oh how fortunante she was! To have a beautiful home with lots of flowers and the sounds of happiness. But how unlucky, in the same way.

She had no lover, no friends, no person to talk to besides Mammy. What more could be taken away from someone like Scarlett O'Hara. Suppose she had known what was to happen to her? Why, she'd never have married that foolish Charles, or become attatched to Melanie. She'd get Ashley! She'd never be with Rhett, thank God. But what would happen to her? Like the respectable man he was, Ashley would marry Melanie all over again and Scarlett would be in an even bigger heartbreak. Scarlett suddenly pushed the bonnet she was working on onto the floor and let out a sob. She did not want to cry, but something in her, forced it out and she was sobbing at the top of her voice. She didn't want to devote herself to any children. How unhappy she would be! And Rhett's child! Oh why was life so difficult and unpredictable. Scarlett then looked up into the mirror after a long period of sobbing.

She picked up the bonnet and gathered herself together. She was strong, she was hearty. She could do anything. She could handel this. Surely Ashley couldn't have meant what he said! Scarlett cursed herself for being so stupid. Why he was just frusterated with the Yankee and the business. He never said he loved Melanie did he? Scarlett rose and smiled. It would be just like the old days, with her devoting herself to Ashley, living with Rhett, being kind to Bonnie, and loving to the new baby. She would treat them well, and maybe even Rhett with some serenity, yet she would go for Ashley. Yes! She would do that. It suddenly all made sense to her. She would even be kind to Melanie if it were necessary. Yes, then she would be happy! Sure enough, her spirits soared higher and she felt at peace again, as if nothing happened. Oh she was such a fool! What a fool she was! She laughed merrily. Yes, surely!

Suddenly, her mind spun when she saw that Ella and Wade were not playing alone. A blonde boy that could only be Beau was playing with them. Perhaps Melanie had been busy and sent him over to play, but Melly was not one to be busy. Scarlett's happiness died down when she noticed Uncle Peter's cart parked in front. Fear filled her mind. Surely Melly was here! Not ever had she thought of Melanie coming and the idea scared her worse than having to face Sherman and his army in battle. Her body trembled, her lips turned white and she felt her legs slipping underneath her. She could not catch herself and she fell backwards, onto the bed. Then she got back up, with more strength than she knew herself to have. Oh what a fool I am! Scarlett thought disgusted. I'm scared of Melanie! A little ninny scares me? Ha! She'd sooner scare off the Yankee government than me! Of course, the little fool wanted to talk. What on Earth did she want? She then realized it had been two months since they had even seen each other. Scarlett wished it would drag on longer, but there are dreams that just can't be granted among those who wish for them.

Scarlett rushed to the bedroom door and bushed in open with all of her might. Her eyes spun when she was not Melanie but India. Scarlett could not believe it at all. India Wilkes! In her home! It seemed more impossible than the sky falling. Scarlett tried to slam the door, but India blocked it. Scarlett was frightened by India's dark, disapproving expression. Scarlett felt no quivering, but instead angry rage.

"What are you doing here India, where's Melly?" Scarlett looked around.

"She's not inside" India answered plainly.

"You still haven't answered my question" Scarlett pointed out with a cruel smile "Come here to beg for money?"

India slammed her fist onto Scarlett's nighttable.

"I would never beg for money from a-a-a scoundrel like you" India shouted. Her expression nearly made Scarlett laugh.

"Don't you dare laugh! I hate you and you know I do, but I don't care. You think you're so high and mighty! I didn't come here for you! Pitty forced me to come and to assist Melly. And I did, good-bye" India paused as if to see what Scarlett would say next.

"Tied unto old Grandma's apronstrings. I didn't know you were that weak" Scarlett told her.

She watched as India's plain face turned angry with the largest rage anyone could think of. As much as Scarlett hated India, she could not think of why she had said anything of the sort to her. These were the sort of things Rhett told her! And yet she repeated them, to India? However she made no effort to apologize, and the revenge of Stuart and all the miseries of poverty took over India. She lunged at Scarlett without thinking of her respectability and ladyhood. She tried to hit her but missed. Scarlett, seeing the expression in India's face, yelled out. A few seconds after she cried out, the door opened. And who should come but... Melanie? Yes, it was Melanie! The look in Melanie's eyes dazzled Scarlett. A mixture of undying devotion, blinded hate, and loving admiration. Scarlett stumbled back into her chair and watched Melanie grab India, trying to calm her. India tried to free herself of Melanie, but even the small frail arms now seemed strong enough to take on a pack of lions. India pushed Melanie back in retalliation. Scarlett was hardly surprised to small body stumble backwards into the dresser. India didn't move from her position and blinked a few times. Melanie stood up again and walked over to India. Scarlett watched in bewilderment as Melanie approaced India and raised her hand. With all her little might, her hand fell across India's pale face in a sharp, loud sound. Scarlett felt her entire body go numb at the sound and her face went pale. India was no better than Scarlett, and allowed Melanie to drag her out of the room. Scarlett tried to speak, to stand, but fell backwards back into her chair. And before she could even move, tears flooded her face.

Scarlett let out no sound when she sobbed, only the tears rolled down her marble cheeks. It was horrible, but she could nothing to stop it. The sound of movement below was getting softer every second, which made Scarlett cry harder. She did not know why she was crying. Perhaps for eveything, Rhett and Bonnie being gone, Ashley refusing her, her vow, and Melanie. Scarlett shivered violently at the thought. Her mind filled with dread at the thought of it. Melanie could mean no more to her than a figure in the way of her complete happiness. And now she felt... guilt?

Scarlett pushed herself upwards. This could not be! All her life, she had resented Melanie, hated her even, and wished her dead. She thought Melanie a fool for not seeing anything of it. Now she saw Melanie as everyone saw her. A kind, small figure. Maybe even more, a heavenly angel if possible. But how could Melanie be a heavenly angel, when she was so... Scarlett paused for a second in her thought. What? So what? For the first time, Scarlett almost believed Melanie to be nearly flawless. However, it made no more sense than the division between man and woman. The more she thought about it, the more she was confused. Why think of this now? Of all times? Scarlett blindly remembered the look in Melanie's eyes. Tears flooded out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

The gray skys seemed endless, like Scarlett's thought. Her mind reached into her own soul and compared it to Melanie's. Her harsh, one-way, arrogant, spritied personality, compared to Melanie's kind, strong, accepting, sister-like was almost painful to think of. Scarlett wondered to herself why she thought this way. Melanie never mattered to her, and should have never mattered to her! Melanie! Melanie had never meant more to her than a nuisance, like Rhett. Whereas, she had meant more to Melanie than Pitty, India or any of her other female friends. She only came after Ashley and Beau for Melanie. She wondered if she came like that for Ashley. As soon as she thought it, she diminished it. She then wondered how she could be so cruel as to think of Ashley, when Melanie had been there always instead of him, fighting for her. If it were any other day, Scarlett would've thought herself crazy, but she did not. Scarlett walked over to the fireplace, and almost enjoyed the freezing cold it brought. She deserved it more than ever now. She began to wonder if her ways were wrong. Why did Melanie trust her so much, if she hated her so much. Scarlett began to wonder if Melanie should die, what would she do? The idea filled her with uncomfortableness and unhappiness. Why? Maybe because she could never have Ashley even if Melanie were dead! But she didn't want Ashley now. She wanted Melanie. How wrong she was! But how could she love Melanie and Ashley?

"Maybe I don't love Ashley" Scarlett murmured dusting the top of the fireplace with her even colder hands.

This idea infulged her. How could she not love Ashley! She loved him for many years! His love brought her happiness, courage, fear, desperation. Or was it his? Perhaps the love of.. someone else? Ashley did not leave her mind, but Rhett entered, unjustly. The thought of Rhett stirred no feeling in her. She was frightened by this. She should feel angry, rushed, or possibly even relieved. But she felt nothing, no matter how much she tried. Suddenly, her hand brushed along a leather cover. She recognized it as Rhett's. Slowly, she picked it up and opened it. She was suddenly startled, it was a portrait of her and Rhett on their wedding day. Scarlett examined herself. She looked beautiful in bright ribbons and her almost colorful wedding dress. Melanie was standing next to her with the largest, happiest smile Scarlett had ever seen on her. Rhett's expression was exhaling. His eyes full of... love? His smile full of passion and he looked more handsome than she had ever seen him. Even Wade looked happy, almost like Beau who was standing next to him. She tried to remember if her wedding day was a happy one. It was sure much happier than her two previous ones. She could now hardly remember the day, except how happy she was to be free of poverty, but much less on being Rhett's wife. It was because of that she should've been that, but like a fool she wasn't. Yes! That's what she was a fool. Scarlett herself was surprised by her own bold language. She knew Rhett had loved her back then, but would he love her now that she had bullied him and kicked him out of her bedroom? He had too! Didn't she love Ashley all these years even though she knew she could never have him!

Suddenly the door and Melanie walked in, her face full of loving concern and kindness, one that Scarlett had only seen in her own mother. It felt so wonderful to see it again after all these years of hardship. She began to cry relentlessly over again. Like a gentle mother, Melanie held Scarlett to her breast, calming and soothing her. Scarlett did not recline this offer, for she now understood, and wanted Melanie more than ever. She cried harder than she ever had. She could not hold it in any longer, she had to say something. The fact that she had been so cruel to Melanie could not escape her. She tried to gather together, and of course burst into tears. She had to tell Melanie! She could never be relieved until she did! Suppose Melanie should hate her afterwards! That was something Scarlett could never lose! She would just die. But then again, Melanie had thought she had her friendship all the while through...

"Melanie darling?"

"Yes dear?" Melanie answered soothingly.

Scarlett broke away from the comforting arms and sat up in her chair and looked Melanie in the eyes. The feeling was unbearable and dreadful, but it had to happen.

"There's something I must tell you" Scarlett told her.

Melanie nodded and sat back to listen.

"Go on dear, I'm listening"

Melanie closed the door of the Butler mansion and stood outside for a moment, and stared at it. She felt a sharp pang inside, as if someone had stabbed her. Scarlett. Melanie's mind did not fill with hate at the thought of her, but it should. Melanie scolded herself for even thinking of hating Scarlett. She had been there for an hour at least, listening to Scarlett's painful tears and words. She spoke of her jealousy, anguish, fear, and of course, guilt. Melanie began to walk. Scarlett had finally told her the story that she had been waiting to tell. The story of her, Ashley, Melanie, Rhett, Charles and almost everyone else. Melanie felt nothing but pity and kindness towards Scarlett. Scarlett had not told her any exact names or feelings, but Melanie knew she was talking of her. For some reason, it hardly affected her. It only made her understand Scarlett more. There was something, at the end of story. Melanie had felt empty and numb, when Scarlett begged her forgiveness at her feet and promised to be good the rest of her life. That was when Melanie realized it wasn't poor Scarlett's fault. She had only misunderstood. Melanie stood at the foot of her home, light-headed with a heavy heart. She needed to sleep. Melanie slowly turned the knob on her door and entered. Beau was at Aunt Pittypat's, and Ashley was at work. this left Melanie to herself. She entered her bedroom, and lay down in her bed, feeling much warmer than before. Her feeling overwhelmed her heart. Her ragged copy of Les Miserables was next to her. She picked it up and wondered, if she had suffered what the characters in this book had, would she still be the gracious person she was? She thought of Scarlett, and of Rhett. What of them? They would most likely change. She opened up to a page and read what she saw aloud.

"If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness".