(I only wish I had the words to express my thanks to rgraham666 for his patience and encouragement while editing this story)
I had been waiting all day for you to return from your business trip. Its funny – after having been divorced for three years, I had just begun to come to grips with the loneliness. I still cried at odd times, but I had started to realize that life went on. It didn't matter if you liked it or not or that all of your dreams had been left shattered upon the rocks of a failed marriage. I never could have conceived of a divorce twenty-eight years ago when we had said "I do" at the wise old age of nineteen.
Oh, I had known everything back then. Advice to wait a little longer, I disregarded. What did others know about the two of us and the love that we felt for each other. I chalked up their proffered warnings as expressions of their regrets at having made wrong choices in their own marriages. There was no doubt whatsoever in my mind that I had found true love. The marriage vows of "till death you do you part" were but words in a ritual. I couldn't even fathom that a love that burned so bright could ever fade.
But, fade, it did. The divorce left me with feelings inside of regret, failure, disillusionment, self-pity, doubt, and anger. I swore to myself that I would never allow myself to be so vulnerable again. I would go on. In time I may even learn to laugh again. However, trusting another man and feeling love again were not even to be contemplated.
That was until I met you, darling. Lord knows I wasn't looking for a lover. I'm a fort-seven year old single mother who had recently entered the job market for the first time in her life in an effort to keep her family afloat. I certainly didn't have the time to indulge myself with my own pursuit of pleasure. My children were my main and only concern. I would make any sacrifice for their happiness.
Besides, I had already been thrown upon the scrapheap of the unwanted. And this by a man who had sworn that he loved me! What could any other man possibly see in me?
My mother had always preached to us that life seldom made any sense. After we met and became close, I guess you could say that she knew what she was talking about. Who would have dreamed that this forty-seven year old woman would find happiness with a man who was only twenty-five?
Yes, we had to keep our affair quiet. I lived in fear every day that someone would discover us and I would be made the main topic of gossip in this small town forever. After a while, I also lived in agony every day because I couldn't stand the pain of having to stay apart and out of sight. The past three weeks have been especially painful while you were in another city on business. At last, you were coming home and I had taken the liberty of doing some grocery shopping for you and letting myself into your house to give it a good cleaning before you came home.
Finally I heard you turning the key in the lock. My heart began to beat harder just at the thought of seeing you again. As you came through the door, my heart melted when I saw the exhaustion written all over your face. You had been keeping such long hours and I knew that they were taking a toll on you. Even through your weariness you still managed a smile for me and gave me the sweetest kiss a woman could ever hope for.
I took your hands and led you over to the sofa and you collapsed on it. I went to the fridge to get you something to drink, but when I came back your eyes were closed already. My heart went out to you once again as I stood over you and watched you sleep. I crept to your bedroom and retrieved your pajamas and a blanket to cover you with.
Moving quietly, I bent down and removed your socks and shoes. I looked up at you, surprised that even this activity did not awaken you. I reached for your belt and loosened it, then undid your pants.