As I walked towards her I flipped through my mental Rolodex of pickup lines, praying that I’d find the right one. I’m usually not nervous when it comes to approaching women, but there was something about her. She was sitting at a table with a few of her girlfriends. It looked like they had decided to grab a couple of drinks after work. I stopped at the bar and straightened my tie. As I did, another guy approached her. Before he could get a complete sentence out of his mouth, she dismissed him effortlessly. Her girlfriends made sure to let him know how horribly he had failed. I leaned over and got the bartender’s attention.

“That table full of ladies, would you happen to know what they’re drinking?” I asked. “They started with shots of Casamigos, but now I think they’re on their second round of margaritas.” I rubbed my goatee as a plan began to form. I quickly filled the bartender in and headed towards the table.

As I made my final approach, all the women looked me up and down. I felt as if I were facing the firing squad. Except for the object of my attention. We locked eyes, and I couldn’t break away from her gaze. Her beautiful, light brown eyes caught me completely off guard. “Can we help you with something?” Her sultry voice undressed me to my soul. In that very moment, I went completely blank. It was akin to that dream everyone has where they’re standing in front of the class without their homework, naked. I took a quick breath and gathered what was left of my thoughts.

“I was gonna come over here and say something witty and charming to you, but then I saw how the guy before me crashed and burned. So I’ll just say: you’re without a doubt the most breathtakingly gorgeous woman I have ever seen.” I took a brief moment to scan the faces of her friends, who were all looking like they had just heard a beautiful sonnet read by the love of their lives. I flashed a quick smile and said, “On that note, I’ll bid you lovely ladies a good night.” Then I walked away.

As I did, I peeked over my shoulder just in time to see the bartender deliver the round of drinks I had bought for them. Her friends immediately began to swoon. One even screamed, “You better go get that fine ass piece of milk chocolate before I do!” I picked up my pace a bit so that by the time she caught up to me, I was already at the door.

“That was some smooth shit you just pulled in there.”

“Can’t a guy buy a woman a drink?” I jabbed back with a grin.

“He can, but only if he’ll let her buy him one back,” she replied. I started back towards the door to the bar, but she grabbed my arm.

“Nah, not here,” she said as she hailed a taxi, “Let’s go somewhere else.” So I reversed course and climbed into the cab behind her.

A few minutes later, we arrived at our destination. As I exited the backseat of the taxicab, I took a long look at the building. “I don’t think I’ve ever been here before.” She shot me a quick grin, grabbed my hand, and dragged me inside. The room was dimly lit, with a band on stage playing. She led me by the hand to a table near the stage and we sat down. “So how often do you bring strange men here?” I asked with a chuckle.

“Probably about as often as you buy drinks for a table full of strange women.” We both laughed as the waitress came over to take our order. I softly nodded as we sat back and listened to the band play.

“I am a little disappointed that you missed the best part.” She shot me a confused look. Then her phone vibrated in her purse. She fished it out and stared intently at the screen. A smile exploded across her face as she handed me the device. “You wrote your number on a napkin? That’s a nice touch.” I couldn’t help but blush a little bit.

After a few drinks and some heavily flirtatious conversation, we decided to leave. As we walked down the street, she said, “I don’t want this night to end. Not yet.” I had to admit, neither did I.

“Well, what would the lady like to do then?” She looked at me and smiled as she hailed another taxi.

I woke up the next morning with little bodies jumping on me. “Daddy! Daddy! Wake up!” the children screamed in unison. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at my three beautiful girls staring back at me. “I’m up babies,” I replied as I kissed them each on the forehead. My wife peeked her head into the bedroom to let us know that was breakfast was ready. The girls all let out a joyful scream and dashed towards the kitchen. I climbed out of the bed and followed behind them.

“Did you have fun last night?” my wife asked as I passed her in the doorway. I leaned over and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

“I did! We should role play more often.”

She said to him, “You’re definitely easy on the eyes.” He blushed and replied, “Thanks. So are you.” He couldn’t believe his luck. He had been sitting at the bar for hours, nursing his drink and trying to work up the nerve to talk to the beautiful woman a few seats down from him. He had noticed her the moment she walked in, with her long, dark hair and piercing hazel eyes. She was wearing a tight, black dress that showed off her curves in all the right places, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Now, here she was, talking to him.

He took a deep breath and tried to think of something clever to say. But before he could, she spoke again. “I’m Hannah,” she said, holding out her hand. He took it, feeling a jolt of electricity shoot through his body at the touch of her skin. “I’m Jack,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

They chatted for a few minutes, and Jack found himself relaxing around her. She was smart, funny, and easy to talk to. They had a lot in common, and he found himself laughing at her jokes and hanging on her every word. As the night wore on, they moved to a table in the corner and ordered another round of drinks. Jack was starting to feel a little buzzed, and he knew he should probably slow down, but he didn’t want to stop talking to Hannah. She was unlike anyone he had ever met before, and he was completely captivated by her.

They talked for hours, about everything from their favorite movies to their hopes and dreams for the future. Jack learned that Hannah was a nurse, and that she had a passion for helping people. He was impressed by her dedication and her kindness, and he felt like he could talk to her for hours without getting bored.

At some point, Hannah got up to go to the bathroom, and Jack took the opportunity to check his phone. He had a few missed calls and texts from his friends, wondering where he was and when he was coming back. He knew he should probably leave soon, but he didn’t want to say goodbye to Hannah just yet.

When she came back to the table, he smiled at her and took a deep breath. “I have to go soon,” he said, feeling as though sadness was stabbing him in the heart. Hannah looked at him, and he could see the disappointment in her eyes. “Oh,” she said, sounding a little deflated. “Can I see you again?” Jack blurted out, before he could stop himself. Hannah looked surprised, but then she smiled. “I’d like that,” she said. Jack felt a surge of excitement in his chest. He couldn’t believe he had just asked her out, and that she had said yes.

They exchanged phone numbers, and Jack promised to text her the next day. He walked her to her car, feeling like he was walking on air. When they reached her car, they hugged goodbye, and Jack once again felt a pang of sadness as he watched her drive away.

The next few days were a blur for Jack. He couldn’t stop thinking about Hannah, and he spent all of his free time texting her or trying to plan their next date. They talked about everything from their favorite restaurants to their favorite books, and Jack felt like he was falling in love with her more and more every day.

Finally, they agreed to meet up at a coffee shop near Hannah’s apartment. Jack was nervous as he walked up to the door, but when he saw Hannah sitting inside, smiling at him, all of his anxiety melted away. They spent the next few hours talking and laughing, and Jack felt like he was finally getting to know the real Hannah. She was smart and funny, but she was also vulnerable and kind-hearted. She told him about her family and her childhood, and he shared stories about his own life. They talked about their fears and their dreams, and Jack found himself feeling more and more connected to her.

As the afternoon turned into evening, they decided to go for a walk in the park. It was a warm, breezy night, and they strolled hand in hand, enjoying the peacefulness of the city around them. At one point, they stopped to sit on a bench and watch the stars. Jack put his arm around Hannah, and she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I feel like I’ve known you forever,” he said softly. Hannah looked up at him, and he could see the emotion in her eyes. “I know what you mean,” she said.

They sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the moment, and then Jack leaned in and kissed her. It was soft and sweet, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Hannah kissed him back. When they finally came up for air, they sat on that bench for what felt like an eternity, lost in each other.

Over the next few weeks, Jack and Hannah grew closer and closer. They went on more dates, exploring the city and trying new things. They went to concerts and museums, and they spent lazy afternoons lying in the park, holding hands and talking about nothing.

One night, they went back to the bar where they had first met. It was packed and noisy, but they found a quiet booth in the back, and they sat down together, sipping their drinks and chatting. As they talked, Jack couldn’t help but think about how lucky he was to have met Hannah. She was everything he had ever wanted in a partner, and he couldn’t imagine his life without her.

At some point in the evening, Hannah leaned across the table and took his hand “Jack,” she said, looking into his eyes. “I have something to tell you.” Jack felt his heart race. He had a feeling he knew what she was going to say, but he didn’t want to jump to conclusions. “What is it?” he asked. Hannah took a deep breath. “I love you,” she said.

Jack felt a surge of emotion, and he knew that he loved her too. He had been afraid to say it, afraid to jinx things, but now he knew that he couldn’t keep it inside any longer. “I love you too,” he said, leaning across the table to kiss her. They stayed at the bar for a while longer, getting lost in each other’s eyes, and then they left, hand in hand, ready to start the next chapter of their lives together.

Over the next few months, Jack and Hannah grew even closer. They moved in together, and they started to build a life together. They cooked dinner together and watched movies on the couch, and they talked about getting married someday. Jack knew that Hannah was the one for him, and he was grateful every day that he had met her in that bar. They had started out as strangers, but now they were inseparable, two halves of a whole.

One night, as they were lying in bed together, Hannah turned to him. “Do you remember when we first met?” she asked. Jack smiled. “How could I forget?” he said. Hannah laughed. “I still can’t believe we met in a bar,” she said. Jack took her hand. “I know,” he said. “It’s crazy to think about. But I’m so glad we did.” Hannah smiled, and she leaned in to kiss him. “Me too,” she said. As they laid there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Jack knew that he had found his soulmate, the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He couldn’t wait to see what the future held for them, but he knew that no matter what, they would face it together.

A few months later, Jack proposed to Hannah in the same park where they had shared their first kiss. He got down on one knee and pulled out a ring, and Hannah froze, tears streaming down her face. Everyone around them burst into joyous applause when she finally said yes. They got married a year later, surrounded by their family and friends. The wedding was beautiful, and Jack couldn’t take his eyes off his bride as she walked down the aisle.

As they said their vows, Jack felt like he was the luckiest man in the world. He had found the woman of his dreams, and he knew that he would love her forever. After the wedding, they went on a honeymoon to Europe, traveling to all the places they had always wanted to see. They walked hand in hand through the streets of London, kissed under the stars in Paris, and took a romantic gondola ride in Venice. As they traveled, Jack and Hannah talked about their future. They wanted to start a family, to buy a house, to grow old together. They knew that there would be challenges along the way, but they were ready to face them together, as they always had.

Years went by, and Jack and Hannah’s love only grew stronger. Jack and Hannah continued to go on adventures, exploring new places and trying new things. They went skydiving, bungee jumping, and even swam with sharks. They knew that life was short, and they wanted to make the most of every moment. They eventually had two children, a boy and a girl, and they watched them grow up into amazing adults, the kind that all parents would be proud of.

As they grew older, Jack and Hannah’s love only deepened. They faced health problems and difficult times, but they always had each other to rely on. They held hands through doctor’s appointments and sat together through long nights of worry.

After sixty years of marriage, Hannah passed away peacefully in her sleep. Jack was devastated, but he knew that Hannah had loved him until the very end, and that her love would live on forever in his heart. He spent the next few months mourning her, but also celebrating their life together. He looked through old photos, remembering all the adventures they had shared, and he talked to their children and grandchildren about their memories of Hannah.

This wasn’t like a normal date. She believed this was THE DATE. The date to end all others. As they sat across the table from each other, she couldn’t help but daydream about what their life together would be like. She envisioned their wedding, a grandiose event full to the brim with pomp and circumstance. She fantasized about her father walking her down the aisle and her mother quietly crying in the front row. Quickly, she moved on to visualizing the birth of their first child. In her mind, they would be happy together forever.

Meanwhile, he couldn’t stop thinking about the score of the game playing on the TV behind the bar. He had just gotten out of a pretty serious and somewhat toxic relationship and wasn’t really looking for another. But his friends swore up and down that they would hit it off. So here he was, on a date he didn’t really want to be on with a woman who looked like she was planning their wedding right there at the table.

The waitress came to the table and took their order. After she left, they engaged in standard small talk about their careers and other innocuous topics. She spoke glowingly about her work in the pediatric cancer ward at the children’s hospital. As he listened to her talk about specific patients that had touched her heart, he couldn’t help but start daydreaming himself. Except the images running through his head were more explicit.

After dinner, they decided to walk for a little while and keep talking. He told her about growing up as a military brat, she shared stories from her childhood in Texas. “You’re really easy to talk to,” she remarked, a quick smile sprinted across her face, “I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.” He let out a content smile and nodded in agreement.

“I don’t want this night to end, at least not yet,” she said as she reached her hand for his. “Neither do I,” he replied and clasped her hand in his. They walked hand in hand towards the sound of jazz music pouring out of a lounge further down the block.

Once inside, they quickly found a table near the parquet dance floor. Unlike at the restaurant, they sat extremely close to each other. As the smooth sounds of the jazz ensemble filled the intimate setting, they sat quietly holding hands and hoping the other would make the first move. When the band began playing In a Sentimental Mood, he decided to get the ball rolling. “May I have this dance?” he asked as he stood up and extended his hand towards her. She smiled from ear to ear and quickly grabbed his hand.

As they slowly danced, she couldn’t help but catch a whiff of his cologne. The enthralling scent made her try to burrow her face deeper into his chest. Her soft, kinky hair tickled his nose a little bit, but the mixed aromas from her shampoo and perfume made him dizzy with desire. And his anatomy quickly made sure she knew. She softly pulled away from him then looked down at the growing bulge in the front of his pants. At that moment, he wished he could bury his head in the sand and pretend the world didn’t exist. “I’m so sorry,” he exclaimed. She didn’t say anything, she just switched her gaze from his package to his face.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Dejected, he dropped his head to chest and sulked off the dance floor while trying to conceal the burgeoning erection in his pants. They made their way out the door and he instinctively started walking towards his car with his battered ego in tow. “Where are you going?” He spun on his heels and was pleasantly greeted by the site of her halfway running to catch up with him. He stammered to explain but she jumped into his arms and kissed him.

When they arrived at her townhouse, she gave him a quick tour then told him to go in the bedroom and get comfortable. Like a good soldier, he did as he was told. A few seconds later, music started playing. Song after song played, and he started to detect a theme to the evening’s soundtrack. That’s when Cater 2 U by Destiny’s Child came on. “What you think, baby?” He sat up and was greeted by the sight of her standing in the doorway wearing a black satin bra and panties with black thigh high silk stockings.

He couldn’t muster the ability to speak, his jaw just descended towards my lap. “I guess that means you like what you see.” It took everything in him to pick up his jaw and eagerly nod his head. He watched as she slowly stalked across the room like a lioness hunting her prey. Once she was in arm’s reached, He stretched his hand out to touch her but she gently pushed it away. She stood between his knees so he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Her scent was intoxicating, a mixture of lavender and fresh flowers. He just held her and inhaled. She wrapped her arms around his head and smothered him with her breasts.

After a few moments, she pulled away and took a step back. He sat up straight, drinking in the sight of the beautiful woman in front of him. Then she walked back in between his legs and gently pushed his shoulders back. Just like a good soldier, he fell back onto his elbows. She climbed on top of him, pushed him all the way down onto the bed then leaned down until they were face to face. Then she kissed him so hard that his lips almost started bleeding. He went to wrap his arms around her, but she pinned his hands to the bed. “Just lay back and relax baby, let me do this,” she said in between kisses.

She trailed kisses from his mouth, across his cheek to his eye and then down his neck to his collarbone. Without climbing off of him, she pulled his wife beater over his head. Then she reversed course from his collarbone to his cheek and finally back to his lips. He summoned every ounce of willpower he could to not touch her. She climbed off the bed and stood in between his legs, then she leaned over and kissed all over his torso. He propped himself up on his elbows and made eye contact with her. She was crouched down between his knees and staring back at him, each of her hands had a firm grip on either side of my underwear. And in one swift move, she yanked them off of him, freeing his rock hard manhood. He started to sit up, but she placed her left hand on his stomach as she took his dick in her right hand and mouth.

She took the art of sucking dick to a new level that night. It was as if she was making love to him with her mouth. She took her time, giving attention to every inch of him. As she sucked and licked his shaft with the passion of a woman possessed, he could feel an explosion building up inside. “Oh shit baby, I’m about to cum,” he moaned. Without breaking her stride, she replied, “Do it then.” And just like that, he fired off in her mouth. He lifted his head to look at her as she swallowed every drop without hesitation. “Get all the way on the bed,” she commanded as she climbed onto the queen-sized bed beside him. Once he was at the head of the bed, she quickly straddled his hips and slid his still-erect dick inside of her. She sat there for a while, using her vaginal muscles to massage his member. She started grinding on him, slow at first but she gradually picked up speed until she was frantically bouncing up and down on his dick. “Oh my God baby, shit!” she screamed and planted the palms of her hands in his chest. After a few moments, she exploded and collapsed onto his chest. “Promise me we’ll always be like this,” she murmured. He planted a kiss on her forehead and gave her his word. Then they let the post-coital euphoria carry them off into dream land.

She reached over to his side of the bed only to find he wasn’t there. Matter of fact, it looked as if he hadn’t ever been there. She quickly sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. The initial burst of light temporarily blinded her. Once she was able to see again, she scanned the room for any sign of his presence. There was nothing to be found. She threw back the sheets and swung her legs out of the bed. This was third night this week that she had spent without her husband, and it wasn’t getting any easier. She grabbed her phone and checked her text messages. There was one from him. It simply said: I’ll be home late. But that was over an hour ago. It was almost 3 in the morning. She put on her robe and slid the phone into the pocket.

She shuffled into the kitchen and made a cup of tea. As she sipped, she reminded herself that she had signed up for this life. She knew what he did for a living when she met him. He gave her ample opportunities to walk away if she had any qualms about the life he lived. She chose to stay. She had come to love the trappings that his lifestyle provided. That’s the thought that kept replaying in her head as she sat at the kitchen table and stared at her phone screen. She battled internally with whether or not to text him, just to see if he would respond. She finished her tea and headed towards the living room. She looked out the window, hoping to see his car either sitting in the driveway or pulling in. That hope was quickly dashed as she stared out at the darkened suburban street they lived on.

She tried to convince herself to not worry, that this was just like the other times he stayed out late to handle business. She made her way back to the bedroom and climbed into their king-sized bed and wrapped herself in the soft, Egyptian cotton sheets. Just go to sleep and he’ll be here when you wake up in the morning. She closed her eyes and patiently awaited the Sandman’s arrival. After what felt like an eternity, she opened her eyes. Although she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was, something just felt wrong. She knew she couldn’t sleep until she was sure he was okay. She quickly grabbed her phone and sent him a text. Then she placed the phone back on its charger and rolled over.

An hour later, she was still laying there. He hadn’t replied. Now, her imagination was running rampant with different scenarios that could’ve led to him not responding. What if he’s laid up with some other bitch?! She could feel her blood begin to boil. Although he had never given her any inclination that he was or had been unfaithful, her mind ran through a whole scenario where she caught him in the act of infidelity. She wildly shook her head, trying to expel the notion. What if he’s in the hospital, or worse, dead? A stream of tears rolled out of her eyes and onto the silk pillowcase. She fought back against the negative thoughts that were wreaking havoc on her subconscious. She reached onto the nightstand and grabbed a bottle of sleeping pills. Without thinking, she quickly threw one in her mouth and swallowed.

When she woke up from her drug-influenced nightmare, it was early in the afternoon. Their daughter had come into the room while she slept and climbed in bed with her. “Where’s Daddy?” the little girl asked as her mom’s eyes fluttered open. She had turned on the TV and was halfway watching cartoons. “He had to work late baby, he should be home soon.” The little girl shrugged and devoted all of her attention to the colorful programming. “Are you hungry, baby?” Without breaking her gaze from the screen, the little girl nodded. She semi-struggled to sit up and softly shook her head. As she climbed from under the sheets of the king-sized bed, she grabbed her phone. Still nothing. She slipped on her robe and shuffled towards the kitchen.

While she was in the kitchen preparing breakfast, her daughter came running in with her phone. “Daddy’s calling!” she exclaimed as she sprinted through the house. A wave of relief washed over her as she took the phone and answered the call. “Hey babe. You on your way home?” There was no response. “Honey?” Still no response. She hung up the phone and placed it on the counter. No sooner than she did, it rang again. She looked at the screen, her husband was calling again. She answered the call but before she could say anything, an unfamiliar voice spoke. “Don’t say anything, just listen.” Her heart dropped into her stomach as her mind conjured up the worst possible scenarios. The mysterious voice informed her that her husband had been kidnapped and that if she wanted to see him again in one piece, she needed to come up with half a million dollars in 2 hours. “Where am I gonna get that kind of money that fast?!”

“I’m pretty sure your husband has a bug-out bag stashed somewhere around the house, that’s a good place to start.” Then he hung up.

She stood there, frozen, afraid to show her true emotions with her young daughter in the room. “So when’s Daddy coming home? Can he take me to the park?” She didn’t respond, so the little girl repeated her query. “Go get dressed baby, and watch TV.” The little girl shrugged and scampered off towards her bedroom. The woman sprinted out into the garage and started frantically searching for the emergency suitcase her husband told her about. After a few moments, she remembered that he moved the bag to the closet in their spare bedroom. She raced into the room and snatched the leather weekender bag from the top shelf of the closet.

Once the bag was in hand, she went to her bedroom and quickly got dressed. Once she was decked out in sweats and a pair of tennis shoes, she dumped the contents of the bag onto her bed. It was full of money, mostly small bills banded together. She took a quick moment to count the money, there was almost a million dollars. She grabbed her phone and called her husband. After a few rings, someone answered the phone. “I got the money,” she said softly. “Good,” replied the mysterious voice, “I’ll have one of my associates stop by and collect it.” She paused, thinking of all the movies and TV shows she saw involving something like this. “How do I know you’ll let my husband go once you have the money?” There was a short pause.

“I see your husband has taught you well. Very good, what would you suggest?”

“Let’s meet somewhere in public, but I want to talk to my husband now so that I know he’s okay.” After another brief pause, her husband’s voice oozed through the phone’s speaker and assured her that he was fine. Small tears formed streaks down her cheeks. “Now that you know he’s alive, tell me when and where I can get my money.” They agreed to meet in an hour inside the North terminal of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, right next to the baggage claim area.

After she ended the phone call, she reached into her nightstand and grabbed the Walther PPK/S her husband bought her. She slipped the handgun into the waistband of her sweatpants, right at the small of her back. Then she put the bag in the trunk of her car. She called to her daughter and asked if she was dressed. “Yes Mommy!” the little girl exclaimed as she dashed through the house and towards the garage.

“Get in the car, we’re going for a ride.”

When they arrived at the airport, the little asked, “Are we going on a trip, Mommy?” She told the little girl that they were meeting her father before going to the park. She parked the car, retrieved the bag from the trunk and they walked into the busy building hand-in-hand.

As they made their way towards the baggage claim area, the woman grew more and more nervous. And the more nervous she got, the tighter she squeezed her young daughter’s hand. “Ouch Mommy!” the little girl exclaimed. She knelt down to apologize and kiss her daughter’s hand. Just as she did, the crowd around them seemed to part and she laid eyes on her husband. Before the little girl caught sight of him, she instructed her to stay very close and not to make a sound. The little girl nodded and they approached her husband. She stopped just a few feet short and surveyed her surroundings. Where are the kidnappers? Before she could say anything, her husband closed the gap between them and planted a long, passionate kiss on her lips. “I’m sorry to put you through this, my love, but I had to make sure you could handle yourself if something like this happened for real.” Big, fat tears raced down her cheeks. He pulled her close to him as she meekly pounded on his chest.

“You don’t know how worried I was!” He apologized again and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Let’s go home,” he whispered as he took the leather duffle bag in one hand and her hand in his other.

Jason loved Trina. He loved her more than words could ever say. And if you let him tell it, he had loved her from the very first moment he saw her. It was a warm spring afternoon in Atlanta. Jason and a few of his frat brothers had gotten together for lunch at Strip in Atlantic Station. And that’s when he saw her, standing in line to ride the Ferris wheel. It took every ounce of courage he could muster to walk over and ask for her number. Since then, they had been inseparable.

“Marriage is the next logical step,” he said to his mother as they shopped for an engagement ring, “Plus, I love her with all my heart.”

And today, he was standing at the altar of Elizabeth Baptist Church, Pastor Oliver to his right, waiting on the love of his life to walk down the aisle. Hundreds of their friends and family members in attendance to watch them tie the knot. And while he looked cool as a cucumber on the outside, Jason was a nervous wreck inside. The wedding was scheduled to start at 12 o’clock, it was 12:30.

Another fifteen minutes passes by, and Jason is noticeably worried. The guests are becoming unsettled. His groomsmen are starting to fidget behind him. He looks around the massive room for a reassuring face. There’s not a single one to be found. Finally, Pastor Oliver tries to offer up a comforting word.

“Maybe she’s having some trouble with her dress or she’s stuck in traffic.”

Maybe he’s right. Maybe something happened that’s keeping her from being here. Jason relaxed a little. But why wouldn’t she call or text and say something? He pulled his iPhone out of the inside breast pocket of his tuxedo jacket. Sure enough, he had 2 missed calls and a text message from Trina. He excused himself and went into the pastor’s office to call her back.

“Is everything okay, babe? Where are you?” his voice dripped with concern.

“I’m fine baby, but I’m not going to be able to make it.” Jason was flabbergasted. What does she mean she can’t make it? And as if she could read his mind, Trina answered his query.

“I can’t marry you, Jason, at least not right now. I love you and I’m so sorry.”

Jason was devastated. He dropped the phone and fell to his knees. A stream a tears rolled down his cheeks. How could she do this to me? He curled up in a ball and continued to sob uncontrollably. The sound of Jason weeping filled the sanctuary, causing the pastor and his parents to come check on him.

“Son, what’s wrong?” his father’s baritone voice reverberated through the room. His mother got down on the floor and wrapped her arms around her distraught child.

“She’s not coming, she doesn’t love me!” Hearing himself say the words sent Jason spiraling even further into the chasm of depression that was reaching out to claim his soul. Pastor Oliver excused himself from the room. He slowly walked back into the sanctuary and informed the guests that the wedding had been called off.

A month later, Jason received a call from a number he didn’t recognize. He decided to answer it, just in case it happened to be something important.

“Hey Jason, I’m sorry it took me so long to call you.” Trina’s voice still had a way of completely disarming him.

“How can I help you Trina? I’m kinda busy right now.” She apologized for interrupting him and asked if they could see each other. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to say no, but he agreed then asked when and where they could meet.

“I’m at St. Joseph’s Hospital right now, can you come here?”

When Jason arrived at the hospital, he wasn’t sure what to expect. Trina was a hairstylist by trade, after all. He followed the signs on the wall and found himself standing in front of the oncology department. Still unsure of what was going on, Jason approached the room number that Trina gave him. When he entered the room, his heart sank down into his stomach. There was Trina, lying in bed, connected to a myriad of machines.

“Hey baby,” she said as he approached the hospital bed. Jason was speechless, he just stood and stared at her. Trina explained that she fainted on their wedding day and was rushed to the hospital, where the doctor found a tumor on her brain.

“I thought you didn’t love me.” The words caused both of them to start crying.

“I’ll always love you Jason, until death do us part,” she said as she closed her eyes for the final time.

A strange, old woman just stopped me to say, “In five minutes you will fall in love.” My wife and I looked at each other and shared an uncomfortable chuckle. I looked back at the old woman and replied, “I’m already in love, but thanks for the laugh anyway.” She softy shook her head and repeated her prognostication. My wife leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Maybe she’s trying to get some money.” I reached in my pocket and pulled out my wallet. I fished out a ten and handed it to the old woman. She just smiled at me and said, “Oh no my dear, that’s not necessary. Plus, you two are gonna need that more than me.” By this point, I was completely confused but I put the money back in my pocket. The old woman gave us another warm smile and walked away. My wife and I stood there for a few more moments, trying to make sense of what happened. Finally, we just shrugged it off and kept walking.

As we walked past the various storefronts in the mall, we made small talk about a number of different topics. But the whole time, I couldn’t shake what the old woman had said to me. I tried my hardest to not make eye contact with anyone, including the young guy in Foot Locker that helped me. After buying me and my wife matching pairs of Air Max, she finally addressed the “elephant in the room.” Without breaking her gaze from what was in front of us, she asked if I was still thinking about what the old woman said. I stopped dead in my tracks. “Yes!” I exclaimed emphatically. She turned to face me and squeezed my hand. “You’re worried about nothing.” Hearing her say that made me feel a little bit better. We smiled at each other and kept walking.

As we walked past a children’s clothing store, I noticed my wife staring at the women inside. “You wanna go in?” I asked. She hesitated for a moment then softly nodded her head. I put her hand to my mouth and placed gentle kisses on each of her knuckles. “After you my dear.” A warm smile unfolded on her face as she walked in the store. I followed behind her as she perused the clothes on the racks.

After a few moments, we were approached by a saleswoman. She greeted both of us and asked if we were looking for anything in particular. We both shook our heads and said we were just looking. The young lady informed of us the sales and pointed out the new inventory. We thanked her for her help and she gave us a kind smile in return. But before she walked away, she focused in on my wife, as if she were examining her. “So when are you due? Do you know what you’re having yet?” The questions caught me completely off guard and I burst into a small fit of hysterical laughter. When I regained my senses, I noticed that my wife wasn’t laughing. Quite the contrary, she was standing there with a look of utter amazement on her face. “Honey?” My wife didn’t respond, she just let my hand go and held her stomach. “I’m 13 weeks. How did you know?!” The saleswoman just smiled and rubbed her own pregnant belly.

Hearing those words come out of my wife’s mouth sent my jaw crashing towards the floor. We had been trying to have a child almost the entire length of our marriage, obviously with no success. “This is your first child, right?” My wife nodded while I just stood there in shock. I tried to regain my composure while the saleswoman imparted some advice onto my wife. Then she walked away. My wife turned to face me just as my jaw found it’s way back to its normal position. “This isn’t how I wanted to tell you.” I didn’t respond, I just stared at my wife as if I were seeing her for the first time. In a way, I guess I was. “Say something babe.” Instead, I remained speechless, dropped down to my knees and rested my head against her stomach. Tears began to form in my eyes. “I don’t know you yet,” I whispered, “But I’m already in love with you.”

He smiled at her. She smiled back. He caught her as she began to fall. “We really gotta stop meeting like this,” he said with a chuckle as he helped her back to her feet. She let out a loud giggle in return, you know the kind that comes with being totally drunk.

“You’re always gonna be my knight in shining armor,” she replied as she tried to steady herself on her 6 inch stilettos. Once he was confident she wasn’t going to fall, he opened up the car door and helped her into the back seat. As usual, she sprawled out on his leather interior and was out like a light. This had been their routine almost every Friday night for the last 6 or 7 months.

As he drove through midtown Atlanta, he couldn’t help but peek back at his sleeping passenger. They had met on whim. He was an Uber driver and she was out on the town celebrating a promotion with her law firm. Just as she had tonight, she had gotten way too drunk to function, let alone drive herself home. Their first couple of rides together were completely random, just the luck of the draw or Uber’s algorithms. But the same couldn’t be said after the third, fourth or fifth times he picked her up.

“It’s kismet,” she had said on that sixth ride, “We’re meant to do this song and dance for a while.” They exchanged numbers that night, purely for business reasons of course. At least, that’s what they told themselves.

There were nights when she was coherent for the ride from whatever bar he picked her up at to her home in Sandy Springs. Those were the nights he enjoyed most. He had learned so much about her during their time together. She was the oldest of three children, all girls. She had graduated at the top of her class from Harvard law. But instead of taking a job with a high-powered firm in New York, she came back to her hometown to try and make a difference. She started off working in the public defender’s office, but later moved on to corporate law. Hell, if he wanted, he could probably write her biography. But he wanted more than to just be her ride home after a night on the town. He wanted much more.

After a few minutes, they arrived in front of her townhouse. He put the car in park and went to help his still unconscious passenger out of the back seat. By the time he got around to the curbside door, she was already standing up and waiting for him.

“We’ve really gotta stop meeting like this,” he said, his voice a little more uneasy than the first time he said it earlier in the evening.

“But how else would we meet?” she retorted. He had no answer for her. They linked arms and he walked her to her door. Still arm-in-arm, he patiently waited for her to fish her keys out of her purse. Once she had retrieved them from her bag, he turned to walk back to his car. But she didn’t let his arm go. He tried to gently pul away again, but she responded by tightening her lock on his arm.

“Is there something else I can do for you,” he asked, confused as to why she didn’t let go.

“Spend the night with me.” As much as he had been dying to hear her say those words, he knew deep down inside she couldn’t possibly mean it. But that didn’t stop his imagination from quickly running wild with idea. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“You don’t mean that, you’re drunk.” He tried to pull away again, but she resisted again. He turned to face her and she dove into his arms. As he had so many times before, he caught her. Every inch of his being wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t. He just held her in his arms and stared at her. He knew he was falling for her. If he was truly honest with himself, he knew he had fallen a long time ago. But he always told himself that they were from two completely different worlds and it could never work.

“Ive seen how you look at me when you think I’m asleep in your backseat.” He stood her back on her 6 inch stilettos. Once she was steady again, he took a step back. She instantly closed the distance and kissed him. In that moment, he allowed himself to indulge in his fantasies and kiss her back.

When they finally came up for air, he tried to walk away again. She grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards her front door. He feigned at resisting although there was no way to hide his feelings anymore.

“You’re drunk,” he repeated as she pulled him through the door. She ignored him and swung the door closed behind them. She stepped out of the stilettos she had been in all night. He let out a small chuckle as he noticed how much shorter she was without her heels on.

“I can’t believe it took me almost 6 months worth of binge drinking to finally get you inside my place.” She started to unbutton his pants as he stood there in what could only be described as shock.

“I’ve wanted you since the first night I saw you.” Then she took him by the hand and led him upstairs.