A bead of sweat formed on her top lip in anticipation of what she was going to have to do today. She glanced over and realized that the car had completely stopped moving. She leaned up in her reclined seat to glance out the window and there was her travel mate. He grinned at her as he pumped gas. A smile so filled with love that she immediately relaxed and laid back down in her chair. What luck, she thought, to have such a terrific man love her so completely. It had taken her awhile to convince him that they should go away on a vacation together, but as soon as the plans started to come together he became as excited as she.
The door opens as he enters with a steaming cup of something and something in a bag that he hands to her. What a sweet man, she thought, he always was looking out for her, forever her protector. As they continue driving the 7 hour trip to their vacation spot, she started thinking about how they first met. This was their first vacation together during a relationship that included international long distance, unemployment, and that was just Girl Lisa. He had stayed the same, her rock through the process of finding herself after college. It began when she was a contractor at the company he worked for, and he offered to be a listening ear about the struggles of being respected.
Of course he wasn't without problems, his unknown marital status after his wife left him a few years prior, a hippie look that caused others to judge his lifestyle, and of course the 10 year age difference, but they were both starting anew from the ground up and intent on doing it together.
Which is why it made what she had to do even harder. She debated on when she would break the news to him. There was just no good time on such a happy occasion. She knew it had to be soon, but she also didn't want to ruin the vibe. She would wait until it was almost over. She wanted him in a good mood for their vacation.
They made it to their hotel in good time and enjoyed the next 5 days together. They spent most of the time on the beach, laying in the sun, enjoying the feeling of having absolutely nothing to do. In between they went on excursions to see everything there was to offer. He spared no expense, going to fancy restaurants, buying her things, she felt on top of the world and she made sure he felt the same. Every night in the hotel she reminded him how she felt for him and after he fell asleep, pondered for hours about whether to change her decision. Why mess up a such a good thing with a good man?
It was the last few days of their vacation and they decided to wing it, go to places they had heard about, but never seen. And so quickly it became their last night together. As he went to grab her as soon as they walked into the hotel room, she stopped him. In one breath, she told him, she had met someone else. Now that she was no longer searching for herself, had an apartment, a job, and an offer to get out of the rural area they lived in; she had found a new man and he was perfect for her "new professional" self. She watched him drop his hand from her body, unmoved, slowly nod his head and went to sit on the couch. That night they had sex like it would be their last time together, lasting hours and hours, filled with emotions, tears and proclamations of things left unsaid. The next morning, Girl Lisa hung back unsure of how he would act, when he came out of the bathroom. He smiled a sad smile, held out his hand and grateful, she grabbed it. Tears filled her eyes as she felt that she may have made a mistake, with the greatest man she ever met, only because he didn't live up to what she and others thought would be a "proper" man for a relationship.
Hand in hand, they headed to the car wondering whether their paths would continue to merge, or else take different directions?
This is my introduction in the "Girl Lisa" series, that I am starting. I would love feedback for this is my first crack at fiction. Keep an eye out for a proper introduction to Girl Lisa, coming soon.
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