The day I met Marlena changed the rest of my life and my sexual preference. It was a cold and rainy Sunday when Marlena Edwards arrived at my department store. She was the new department manager that was going to be in charge of the shoe section; which happened to be the department I worked in. At first I wasn't sure I was gonna get along with Marlena, she seemed so shy and quiet. I was loud and obnoxious, and always voiced my opinion when there was a problem. I didn't actually start to really like Marlena until she reached out for my cry for help.
My fiancΓ©e had run out on me and I was trying to make the best of it. Marlena could sense I was upset about something so she took me aside. I broke down in tears
"Marlena I am so sorry. My fiancΓ©e left me. I never saw it coming. I have been trying my best to not let it interfere with work, but it hurts when I think about the lifetime we were supposed to share together."
"Valerie, I knew something was bothering you and that is why I took you aside to let you know that you aren't alone. If you ever need someone to talk to you can call me at home or on my cell phone."
With that she handed me a piece of paper with both numbers on it.
I took her advice and made that first call to her just to talk. It was nice to have a friend to help me through it all. We were around the same age. I, twenty one, she twenty seven. She had just gone through a divorce and all and knew how rough things could be. We would hang out after work, and I would always have so much fun with her.
Suddenly I started to have feelings for her. At first I was in denial. I had always dated the opposite sex. I thought to myself "Valerie, you need to get these thoughts out of your head, she is gonna think you are a freak and not even want to be your best friend anymore."
I finally accepted that I had feelings for her when something drastic happened. Her ex husband was still upset about the divorce. He would still call and say mean things to her to make her feel terrible for wanting to leave him. One night while I was talking on the phone with her, he kept calling; on the other line, and making terrible threats. He said if he had his way she would be dead. He was drunk yet again and Marlena shrugged it off.
"Val, you have nothing to worry about. This is just something Bud does, that further proves what an ass he is. It is his way of trying to control me even though we aren't married anymore."
"I don't know Marlena, maybe I should come over and spend the night just in case."
"Don't be silly I am a big girl I can take care of myself. Besides you have to open your department tomorrow. You need to get some sleep."
As hard as I tried, I could not get to sleep. I still had the nagging suspicion, something was dreadfully wrong. I looked at the clock and it said 12:15 AM. I reached for the phone. I figured I'd phone her just in case. Luckily, if something was wrong, I only lived 20 minutes away.
She answered the phone with a distressful tone, and I knew then and there that my instincts were right.
"Hello!! Valerie, I am kind of busy right now can you call me back later."
"What is wrong Marlena??!!" I exclaimed, with more fear in my voice then I intended.