This is my first story in English. As the reader may notice, English is not my first language, so please be gentle, still all feedback is appreciated.
The story is quite short, but there may be another part coming.
*
I look at my naked self in the bedroom mirror.
"What's wrong with me? Why do all attempts to form a relationship with the opposite sex always go wrong?" I ask my reflection and try to see the answers in my image.
Somebody once said that the answers can often be found in the mirror. I can't see them.
It's been over five years since my messy divorce, and that marriage left me with only bad memories. We had been together for over ten years but left me with nothing. I don't have children either, even though we tried for years. Over the past two years, I've been dating again. I tried to form a relationship with two men, but both ended fast. I broke off with them after men revealed their true nature.
I am a 40-year-old, ordinary-looking woman. My name is Janita. I'm certainly not a beauty, at least not in my opinion. I'm short, and extra fat has accumulated in my butt and belly, but men still notice me and even compliment me. I have also been told that sex with me is fantastic, and I am aware that I am very open to experimenting and generally open person in the field of erotica. I have a vivid imagination, and it's been a good thing this year since no man has been in my bed for quite a long time.
"Am I still too easy or just too demanding?" I keep looking for explanations, but the mirror won't tell me anything.
Maybe I am a little bit too easy, especially when my desires become too great, but now I've been alone again for several months.
"Or is it almost a year?" I ask myself as I squeeze my breasts, which look okay to me. At least they are big; I smile at my reflection in the mirror. God, it would feel good if someone were to touch them.
I shake off self-pity from my mind. I get dressed and take the tram to the city center. I have a date with my best friend at the coffee shop, and I don't want to be late. My friend Sonja has been my support and refuge throughout my adult life, and I have always supported her to the best of my ability.
Sonja is married to precisely the kind of asshole I've encountered myself in recent years. Her husband Jared, who is not only a workaholic, is also a weekend drunkard. Sonja does not seem to understand this, even though we have discussed it many times.
Sonja and Jared have a son, Jon, who just turned 18. Jon is from a completely different planet than his father. He is an excellent student at school and enjoys astronomy. I bought him a telescope for his last birthday, and we went to see the stars together that same evening. Jon was so proud to show me what he knew about the stars.
I often worry about Jon, who, as far as I can see, is afraid of his father, and the sensitive son suffers visibly from the behavior he must face at home. Even at school, he has been bullied throughout the years. His father thinks he is weak, whereas I see a strong young man. I believe Jon is ahead of his peers in many ways, but his social skills are underdeveloped, and he prefers to bury himself in the stars rather than spend time with friends, which is what a boy of that age should do.
I arrived at the café on time and was about to order coffee for us when I noticed Sonja coming from the opposite direction, half a run.
"I wasn't late, darling?" Sonja asks, kissing me on my cheek and giving me a firm hug.
"Not at all. I just arrived myself." I take Sonja by the hand, and we move on to the only free table.
"Lovely to see you. It feels like it's been an eternity since we last met." I confess to Sonja.
I've missed her, but we've both been so busy that we haven't had time to meet.
"It's been busy lately, but it's wonderful that we are now starting holidays. We could meet every day." Sonja smiles.
"What do you mean every day?" I ask, a little puzzled because even though we are good friends and I have time to spend with Sonja, she is kept busy by her husband and Jon.
"I have a proposal for you, my dear friend," Sonja says, looking at me with a big smile as if she can't hold in some big surprise anymore.
"Well, tell me." I encourage her. I secretly hope that Sonja has finally decided to leave her husband. That won't happen.
"Would you like to go on holiday with us to sunny beaches? Just a week's vacation. You wouldn't have to pay anything for accommodation or travel. Jared's mother was supposed to go with us but had to cancel, and the ticket can't be refunded." Sonja says with excitement in her voice.
"Who are we exactly?" I ask skeptically. Will your husband come too?" I continue with a disappointed tone in my voice. I remember how their trip to Italy last year ended with Jared. Sonja and Jon returned alone after Jared was arrested in a fight.
"Yes, he comes too," Sonja confesses, and I press my gaze. We have never gotten along with Jared.
"But Jon is also coming, and Jared has promised not to drink this time," Sonja assures.
"Do you believe him?" I ask skeptically.
"He promised. We have talked a lot about this. We need a family holiday, and Jon suggested you join us instead of Grandma. Then Jared and I would have time alone." Sonja sheds light on her thoughts.
I smile when I hear what Jon has suggested. The boy has always been close to me, and hearing his suggestions pleases me.
"Is it a family holiday if Mom's friend goes also?" I Ask.
"You are family. At least for me, Jon and Jared didn't resist the idea either." Sonja assures.
I lean on the back of my chair and taste my coffee for some time to think.
"Well, if you've talked about it with the whole family, I guess I could go. I've been thinking for a long time anyway that I need a break from everyday life." I answer after a little while.
"Besides, I haven't even had time to spend with Jon lately, even though the boy has often asked me to come and visit," I answer Sonja as I notice that I have decided to go along.
"I know. He has asked about you often." Sonja laughs.
"So maybe we should have a glass of wine to celebrate the upcoming holiday and then go shopping. We need new clothes for the trip." Sonja suggests, clearly satisfied. I smile at my friend's enthusiasm.
Only two days had passed from our week-long holiday in the stunning scenery of the Costa del Sol when Jared's promise not to drink broke. We had just returned from a shopping trip with Sonja and Jon when Jared came to meet us in front of the hotel. He was drunk. The expression on Sonja's face was revealing, and she didn't dare look me in the eye, although she knew I wouldn't blame her.
Seeing his father, Jon immediately moved behind me, and I understood the hint. He didn't want to witness what would happen next when her parents would start arguing.
"Jon and I are going upstairs," I told Sonja, took Jon by the hand, and guided him past his father.
"Right, take that crybaby for a nap." Drunk, Jared said as we walked past him. I looked at Jon and saw tears in his eyes.
"Fucking whore!" Jared said to me as we walked through the hotel door. I squeezed Jon's hand as we entered the elevator. He pressed himself against my shoulder as the elevator jerked upwards.
"Never mind. You know what your father is like. Your mother can talk sense into him." I tried to convince Jon, but at the same time, I knew I was lying, and Jon was the last person I wanted to lie to. I kissed the boy's cheek, and he smiled lightly.
"Yes, I wouldn't mind if those two move to a different hotel or go home." Jon sighed in reply. He tried to be brave, but the expression on his face said otherwise.
I escorted Jon to their room and said he could come to my room if the need arose. My room was so small that I didn't want to invite the boy there immediately, but I felt the need to give him the possibility.
"Couldn't I come right now?" Jon asked pleadingly.
"Let's wait and see what those two decide. Your mom wants you to wait for her, so let's see where things go." I try to assure Jon.
Jon opens the door and walks into his room, looking depressed.
I close the door to my room behind me and sit on the edge of the bed with a sigh. The holiday had started great. Sonja, Jon, and I had already visited the shops at the airport and laughed together. Jon was sitting next to me on the plane, and we had already planned things to do together for the coming days. At least we were going to go and see the stars, with the help of a telescope I gave Jon as a gift, and we had to go swimming as well. In addition, there were plans to head to a nearby island for a night or two. However, it looked like a drastic change in plans could happen.
Jon had been overjoyed to hear that I was taking part in the trip. The boy's enthusiasm had amused Sonja and me, but he caught us along with his joy. Now and then, we had walked hand in hand, or I had held him by the arm, and kisses had been shared in the name of friendship.
Jon was already taller than me, and it was clear that the boy was rapidly developing into a young man and a handsome one. Fortunately, his temperament had not yet become defiant, probably due to his father's tyrannical behavior when drunk. I hoped it would never happen. Jon was very submissive and sensitive. I should be careful about my behavior around him to avoid breaking a sensitive young person.
I had just finished putting on a clean top and a new skirt I bought when a message from Jon arrived on my phone.
"Shall we go stargazing? I want to show you how the telescope you bought works." Jon wrote.
I smile when I read the message. Jon has moved on from the events downstairs.
"Sounds great. What time are we leaving?" I reply to Jon.
"At eight. We can walk to the hill behind the hotel." Jon answers.
"OK. See you downstairs." I reply.