Ayla shook her head. Did he really expect her to just forgive and forget everything that happened and take him back with open arms? She had suffered so much; he broke her heart. He hadn’t cared what he did to her, he only cared that the house was clean and that the meals were made. She couldn’t risk the heartache again; she wouldn’t survive it again.

“I’m sorry Dan, but no, I will not be giving you another chance. I am happy with my life that I have now. Maybe one day I will get lucky and meet a guy that loves me like in all those sappy movies you refused to watch with me. Maybe I will find someone to love me like I deserve to be loved. I have nothing else to say.” Ayla shrugged, sighed and crossed her arms. Her mind was made up, while she still loved Dan, she couldn’t do it. Dan’s phone rang and he never even reached for it.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” she asked.

“No, whoever it is can leave a message or call me back later. This isn’t fair Ayla. You have to give me a chance to show you that I am not that person anymore. I have learned my lesson. I am begging you, please let me prove to you that I can be the man that you deserve.” Dan pleaded, standing up, he walked around the table to stand at her side. He grabbed her hand and pulled her up against him. She tried to push him back but he tightened his grip on her.

“Stop this Dan. Stop right now. Let me go, this is not how you prove to me that you have supposedly changed.” Ayla said, her voice rising once again. Moose stood up, letting out a low growl, he placed himself between Ayla and Dan, as much as he could. Dan wouldn’t let go, Ayla pushed and pushed against his chest but he wouldn’t loosen his hold on her. Dan sighed and dipped his head, attempting to kiss her. Ayla seen the kiss coming and managed to turn her head in time, the kiss landing on the side of her face, right below her ear. Moose growled again, the hair starting to raise down his back, and he let out a deep bark.

Ayla wasn’t sure when it happened but Dan let out a loud yell and jumped backwards. Moose was hanging onto Dan’s ankle, growling and twisting his head, not letting go. Ayla screamed as she grabbed Moose’s collar. “Let go Moose, everything is okay. I am okay, you’re a good boy for protecting me.” Ayla stroked Moose’s head as she spoke to him and he released the hold he had on Dan. Dan jumped up and took a step towards Ayla. Moose let out another deep bark, a low growl, showed his teeth and stood directly in front of Ayla.

“Just let me kiss you, just once. Let me show you how much I miss you. Let me show you how good things can be between us.” Dan pleaded.

“You can get your coat and leave; you know where the door is. If you contact me again, attempt to see me or send me anything else, I will contact the police and file harassment charges against you. You are not the person I thought you were, I should have left you way before I did. And another thing, I know that you were only faithful to me for the first three months that we were together. Maybe you should look up some of the women that you used to give your time and attention to, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind being a fill in for me, since I was a fill in for them our entire relationship!” Ayla said, her hands made into fists which rested on her hips, flames dancing in her eyes and her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Moose stood in front of her, ready to take a bite out of Dan again, if he had to.

Dan grabbed his coat, walked to the door and turned to look at Ayla. “You will regret this; I can promise you that much! You will never be anyone’s first and only choice. You may as well get used to being alone the rest of your life. As for all those sappy movies, that kind of love doesn’t exist, not for you anyway.” Dan jerked open the door, walked out it and slammed it so hard it knocked a picture of Moose and Ayla wearing Santa hats to the floor.

Ayla sank to the floor behind Moose. “You are such a good boy, thank you for saving me. I think you deserve your very own steak for dinner tonight.” Moose licked his lips and wagged his tail. Ayla may not ever find the type of love she wanted but she had Moose and that was enough for now.

Ayla never thought of Dan again after that day, she no longer visited Fooley’s just to catch a glimpse of him, she didn’t worry what he was doing or if he was taking care of himself because she didn’t remember him.

Ayla had visited the spell caster a few days after the incident with Dan. She had requested the memory spell be cast over her as she didn’t want to remember the time she had spent with Dan. The spell caster did the spell, erasing Dan from her memory.

Sometimes, erasing memories is for the best.