It's referred to as the 'Butterfly Effect.'
In nature the tiniest of things sets into motion a shift that changes the entire future.
Something that took years to set into place, could come tumbling down in a domino effect from such a simple action.
Mitch, 35, has worked for the same architecture firm since college; and successfully moved up steadily.
Now he's leaving his family a couple nights a week to make a deadline on a large project that he claims is necessary to make him a partner.
A partnership he's been vying for since starting there.
Therefore, his inattentiveness, distracted demeanor at home, 2 or 3 nights a week working until 8 or 9pm at the office. Several noticeable changes of behavior over the past few weeks, were chalked up as stress related, working so diligently for his promotion. everything has been gracefully, dutifully accepted by his family.
Yvonne, 34, started a home makeover business right after getting her interior design college degree. Her business grew rapidly, as did her 2 children, Mina now 8, and Myron 10, who were watched by Mitch's mother Mary in their preschool years.
Yvonne is brilliant, very business minded, multi-tasking is her forte, and by scheduling her appointments extremely well, has allowed the growth of her business to one of prestige, with Yvonne only working when the children are in school, this past year she shifted into only taking on big jobs with high end clients.
Being with the same man for 14 years, married for 12 one gets used to obscure habits and no matter how slight they change, any subtle nuance gets noticed.
Yvonne became suspicious a couple months ago, subtle changes have occurred, not just the things Mitch blamed on his deadline.
A couple days ago Mitch came home after another late evening at work, Yvonne detected a fresh, after shower scent when he arrived. He expected she'd believed he was feeling sleepy earlier at work and removed his shirt and washed up liberally to refresh, so he could continue.
Yvonne's suspicions were already on high alert, but no way a sink splash could refresh him to that extent... he showered somewhere; Yvonne needed to know, not only where, but more importantly, WHY?
We were in our queen-sized bed, Mitch just rolled on his side, placed his tablet on the nightstand, turned out his lamp, as he said "G'nite," in a monotone, uninspiring voice that I'd become accustomed too.
"Nite," I responded, no different than most nights, I closed my laptop.
Mitch was right there, barely inches away, if I flopped my right hand over, I'd be touching him. If I rolled on my side we'd be spooning.
Yet that minor amount of air between us might as well be an ocean.
Slowly over the years we'd drifted apart.
Mitch is intently focused on his goal of becoming a partner in his company, and I am near enough to the pinnacle of my career, I've been able to step back and have a new vision, I've clearly realized our original dreams got left behind, we went separate ways.
I'd like to reset our separate directions and get back on track with Mitch.
I am laying here considering rolling to him to initiate some sexual play, it's been more than a couple weeks since we had any intimacy, nearly 2 months since we were coupled passionately and I'm feeling frisky.
Mitches deep breathing just changed to his rhythmic, slightly audible snore, chopping off my promiscuous thoughts at the knees.
I sigh, frustrated; staring into space, I begin doing some reminiscing, I set my laptop on my nightstand.
I'm propped upright by several pillows, I tap the mattress beside me, smiled; these 49 square feet of mattress... we bought this in our apartment when we first married. It almost didn't fit, it was tight against 2 walls, there was only room for one narrow dresser in the room behind the door accessed from on the bed.
Any more than one step into the bedroom and you shuffled down the side or got on the bed.
My dresser was in the living room.
I rubbed my fingers on the surface, this tiny patch of real estate, started out as a very active playground for our lively sex life; sometimes it was a wrestling ring, me getting pinned in new positions.
Sometimes it was a rodeo ring, when I felt like being a cowgirl, bull riding Mitch.
I recall some wonderful times when it was a bondage and discipline platform.
Then came kids, this mattress became a shared space, a safe haven for... 'Dad there's a monster under my bed.'
A hospital recovery bed when... 'Mom I don't feel so good.'
A library when it was family reading time,
or a Saturday morning fort when everyone hid under the covers,
often turning into a tickle fest.
A trampoline more times than I can remember.
I tossed a couple pillows to the floor, feeling better than I had in a long while.
I turned out my light... I set a new goal... I'm going to make our family my priority now, bring Mitch back to being my friend, partner, and lover, setting new goals as a family.
I dropped the kids off at school, I had a meeting at 9:30 with a couple who just bought a downtown penthouse. I drove home, called an Uber, I didn't want to fight traffic and hunt for parking downtown.
Pierre and Sierra were repeat customers, I redid an apartment for them 2 years ago, this penthouse is over twice the square footage, they want a complete makeover, with a budget of 500 grand.
After our initial walkthrough, chatting about their vision and requests; I was making rough sketches, taking notes as we discussed preferences and options.
I had a vision I was comfortable they'd like. "I'll put together a 3-D presentation over the next few days and we'll get together again; how about Tuesday morning to tweak my proposal, and I'll have a quote ready then too."
Sierra smiled "if you'll can do it for the 500, no quote necessary, you have the job," she gave me a warm hug.
Pierre affirmed their decision, nodded as he shook my hand.
"Tuesday 9:30, we'll be here."
Yvonne was excited about the new job, and being only a couple blocks from Mitch's office, she decided to go to lunch with him.
Yvonne was waiting for the walk light to cross the intersection; she had her cell phone in hand tapping the keys to text Mitch she was nearby, when she saw him exit his office building.
He was with a younger woman, quite pretty, long dark hair, in a short red dress, black stockings, red stilettos, she didn't look like a business associate.
They turned left away from me and were about a 1/2 block ahead, too far to yell.
I had an uneasy feeling, they seemed to close, even cozy, as they walked, I watched her hips sway seductively, her gait was like a runway model.
My walk light illuminated, I tried to speed up, I was in heels and although I gained quite a bit, they made the next crosswalk light, and I didn't.
{Please don't let this be the reason he's been working late.}
I saw them enter the hotel; they are likely just going to the restaurant to discuss some business over lunch; I was convincing myself, as I hurried along.
The hotel door silently opened, a gut-wrenching knot twisted tight in my stomach, my breath became a gasp. Mitch was handing his credit card to the clerk at the registration desk.
The svelte woman, now looked like a hooker to me; at least 10 years younger than Mitch, she was primping herself in a small compact mirror as she stood next to him.
Mitch took the key card from the clerk, turned to the woman, his hand went to the small of her back, and with gentle persuasion, both with beaming smiles, strolled toward the elevators.
No need to follow them; I know without a doubt what's going on.
Ok, I had suspicions, but I doubted them, I trusted Mitch; but now this was reality, no doubt anymore... Mitch is having an affair.
My eyes begin to leak, standing frozen unable to move in the lobby, my entire life seems to tumble like the Twin Towers crumbling.
Yvonne stumbles to an overstuffed chair in the lobby, her back to the registration desk, she stares through the doors to the street.
